154 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



hives, I shall describe one whicli may be used with ajmost 

 any Mve, by those who have suiBcient confidence to man- 

 age bees. 



About the season of natural swarming, what I shall 

 call a forced swarm, may be obtained from a populous 

 stock,* by the following process. Choose that part of a 

 pleasant day, when many bees are abroad, and if any are 

 clustered on the bottom-board or outside of the hive, puff 

 among them a few whiffs of smoke — that from spunk is 

 best — so as to drive them up among the combs. The bees 

 win go up more readily if the hive is tipped back, or ele- 

 vated by small wedges, about one-quarter of an mch above 

 the bottom-board. Have in readiness a box — which I shall 

 call the forciwj-hox — Avhose diameter is about the same 

 with that of the hive from which you intend to drive the 

 swarm. Lift the Live from its bottom-board without the 

 shghtest jar, turn it over, and carefully carry it off about 

 a rod, as bees, if disturbed, are much more inclined to be 

 peaceable, when removed a short distance from their fami- 

 liar stand. If the hive is gently placed upside down on 

 the ground, scarcely a bee ^vill fly out, and there will be 

 little danger of being stung. The timid and inexperienced 

 should protect themselves with a bee-dress, and may 

 gently sprinkle the bees with sugar-water, or blow more 

 smoke among them, as soon as the hive is inverted. After 

 placing it on the ground, the forcing-box must be put over 

 it, and every opening between it and the hive, fi-om which 

 a bee might escapef , should be stopped with paper, or any 

 convenient material. The forcing-box, if smooth inside, 



i * " Driving STicceeds best in warm weather, and with popnlons stocks ; for if 

 the combs be not worked down to the floor-board, the bees are apt to collect In the 

 open space instead of ascending into the nppcr box." — Bevan. 



+ In my own practice, I use a box, the Inside edges of which are beveled, lo 

 facilitate the ascent of the bees, and the back hinged, so that It can be opened for 

 seeing the queen as she goes up with them. The few bees that may escape, even if 

 not foil of honey, are too bewildered by their change of position, to make any attack. 



