11 



obtained. ^ Given a good, season, a swarm should be able to 

 establish itself in its first year and may possibly provide some 

 surplus for its owner. 



Stocking from a Swarm. — When the box or skep contain- 

 ing the swarm arrives, it must be placed in the shade near the 

 hive the bees are to occupy. 



If the swarm is in a box, the box should be placed upside 

 down and the screws fastening the lid taken out. The lid 

 should then be wedged open at one end about half an inch to 

 allow the bees to fly. If the bottom of the box consists wholly 

 or partially of perforated zinc it should be covered with a 

 sack to exclude the light, otherwise the bees will become 

 excited, and may come out and escape. 



If the swarm arrives in a skep, the cording and wrap should 

 be removed, and the skep placed on a board with a fair sized 

 stone under one edge, to allow of flight and ventilation. The 

 bees will soon quieten down after the shaking and consequent 

 excitement of their journey, and will then be in a condition for 

 handling comfortably. 



Position of the Hive.— The movable comb hive must be 

 made ready for the reception of the swarm previous to the 

 latter 's arrival. It should face as near as possible south-east, 

 with a clear flight for the bees, and should be shaded from 

 keen north or east winds. The position chosen should be one 

 where the air can play freely round the hive, and also where 

 the sun's rays will not beat down on it. An ideal situation is 

 by the side of, but not under, a standard fruit tree. It must 

 also be easy of access for manipulating, but the entrance 

 should not face a path or other position where human beings 

 or animals pass, or there will be a danger of their being stung 

 by the outcoming bees. The legs should stand upon bricks to 

 prevent them from rotting. The hive must be set perfectly 

 level from side to side, with a downward inclination of about 

 half an inch towards the front, to throw out the moisture which 

 condenses inside, and to prevent the accumulation of moisture 

 from rain driven in by the wind. 



Hiving a Swarm. — In the early evening, say about 6 o'clock 

 normal time or 7 o'clock summertime, the roof and lift 

 in the case of a single- walled hive, and the outer-case 

 surrounding the brood chamber in addition to the lifts if 

 a double-walled hive, should be removed. To prevent the 

 bees ascending from the brocd chamber to the roof, and 

 building their combs there instead of in the frames on the 

 worker-base foundation provided (which they are very likely 

 to do, as it is their natural habit to commence comb Ijuilding 

 from the roof of their home), a thin quilt of ticking or 

 unbleached calico is placed over the frames. The front of the 

 brood chamber should be raised from the floor board about an 

 inch, by means of two wedges. A board, the width of the 

 alighting board, should then be placed in front of, and level 



