68 THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



required. Go to the hive to be packed and remove each 

 frame, tying them round with two pieces of tape in the exact 

 manner as advised under " Transferring " (par. 91), returning 

 each to the hive as finished. Now lay upon the tops of 

 the frames the board with the oblong hole, the side where 

 the zinc is tacked on being uppermost ; then tightly screw 

 this board down on the tops of the frames, so that it presses 

 them firmly down : it will then hold them perfectly rigid. 

 The hole provides ventilation, which is very essential when the 

 bees are excited with the journey. When this is done, cover 

 the board with the quilts and leave the bees alone until they have 

 settled down quietly ; when they have, tack the narrow strip of 

 perforated zinc over the entrance. They will now be firmly fastened 

 m the hive. The body-box must now be screwed to the floor board, 

 the quilts removed, and the roof fixed, partially open, to the body- 

 box ; the dummy-board must be fixed, to prevent it slipping, by 

 some screws properly adjusted. Now thoroughly overhaul the 

 hive, to see that there are no little crevices left open where the 

 bees could crawl through ; any, if found, must be plugged up. 

 The hive will now be ready to send anywhere within a three 

 or four days' journey. No tapes are required if the frames are 

 wired. (See paragraph 85). 



115. Packing Swarms and Driven Bees. — These are 

 best sent in wood boxes having large holes about 6in. square 

 or more at each side, covered with perforated zinc. A box to 

 contain 41b. of bees should be at least i5in. by Sin. by Sin. It 

 is quite a simple operation to put the bees in these boxes, and 

 is thus done : — Cover the perforated zinc over with some material 

 that will darken the interior of the box, placing it upon a large 

 board, or table, the lid downwards ; the box is now opened 

 about an inch, and kept in that position by propping it up with 

 a couple of blocks, one on each side. The bees are then 

 shaken down in front of this box, and they will all run in peace- 

 ably ; when they have done so, shut the box, drive a few 

 nails in the lid to hold it firm, and cord it tightly. When a 

 great number have to be packed in boxes, a large tin funnel is 

 used. The bees are shot into this ; the sides being smooth 

 afford no foothold to them, and they are thus precipitated into 

 the box, which can then be quickly fastened down. 



116. Packing Queens for Travelling.— Queens can be 



sent with perfect safety for considerable distances. To any part 

 of the British Isles is but a simple matter. We are constantly 

 exporting them to all our colonies, and have had the satisfaction 

 of successfully sending them to Persia, a journey occupying over 

 a month, and the greater part of the route being overland in a 

 very hot climate. For particulars of a convenient travelling-box 

 that may be used for short distances, say, three or four days' 

 journey, see paragraph 67. 



