12 



with, the latter, sloping down to the ground. This temporary- 

 board, and the alighting board, are covered with a cloth hang- 

 ing over the sides to the ground, to prevent the bees from 

 crawhng underneath. The akep or box is then taken between 

 the palms of the hands, and gently carried mouth downwards, 

 until it is just above the sloping board. With a smart jerk 

 the bees are thrown out in front of the brood chamber, about 

 one foot away from the entrance, when they will at once begin 

 to take possession of their new home. It is their natural 

 inchnation to run up-hill, therefore the sloping board provides 

 an incline up which they will immediately begin to run, and 

 this, culminating in the hive entrance, guides them into the 

 hive. As they run in, watch should be kept for the queen, it 

 being a satisfaction to see her safely enter her abode. When 

 all the bees are in, the wedges should be taken away and the 

 front of the brood chamber gently lowered to its proper 

 position. Not a single bee must be crushed in this operation, 

 and any bees that are in danger should be brushed away with 

 a, feather. 



Care of New Swarm. — The swarm will benefit greatly if it 

 is fed for at least a week with warm thin syrup, made from 

 luhife cane sugar, given in a bottle feeder. This syrup is made 

 by adding three-quarters of a pint of water to one pound of 

 sugar and heating it over the fire until the sugar is dissolved. 

 It is administered by means of the bottle feeder (Pig. 3), which 

 consists of a feeding stage having a semi-circular slot out 

 half-way round the tin plate, and a bottle having a cap with a 

 series of nine holes punched in such a position that the number 

 of holes exposed in the slot of the feeding stage for the bees to 

 feed at when the bottle is inverted over it, is regulated by turn- 

 ing the index finger on the cap to the required number marked 

 on the wooden portion of the stage. A feed hole is provided in 

 the calico quilt by cutting a square flap, which can be turned 

 back for placing the feeding stage in position, and replaced 

 to prevent the escape of the bees when the feeder is not in 

 use. The syrup should be given warm, and in the evening; 

 access to three holes only being allowed, and a constant supply 

 kept in the bottle for at least a week. 



The bees must be kept warm by adding on the top of the 

 calico or tick quilt about three thick quilts cut from old carpet, 

 or other thick clean material of a similar character, or several 

 neatly folded newspapers. 



On the second day after hiving the swarm, an examination 

 should be made to see that the foundation has remained firmly 

 fixed in the frames. At the same time close the bees, by 

 means of the division board, on to the number of frames of 

 foundation they are able to cover. When these are all built 

 out and well covered with bees (and not until) add a frame of 

 foundation in the centre periodically, until all the frames are 

 occupied by fully drawn out comb and bees. 



