The Hiving of Bees 71 



barrels of water standing about the apiary. Waiting a quarter of a 

 minute for water, sometimes means the loss of a swarm. For throwing 

 the water, a hand force pump is the best. With this a stream of water 

 can be thrown thirt}- or forty feet. If two swarms issue at the same time, 

 they can frequently be kept apart by the use of the pump. It is not 

 necessary to throw a stream of water directly into the center of a swarm, 

 but along one side of it, with a sort of sweeping movement of the arm, 

 that makes the stream fall in a sort of shower. The bees dislike water, 

 and edge away from it. In this way they can be driven in any direction. 

 Two or three pails of water thrown in this manner upon a swarm seems 

 to disconcert the bees, and they begin looking for an alighting-place. 

 If the operator once has a swarm well in hand, there is plenty of water, 

 and he knows how to use it, it is well nigh impossible for a swarm to 

 get away. 



When queens are allowed to accompany swarms, there ought to 

 be no tall trees near the apiary, as the swarms will cluster where it is 

 difficult, even dangerous, to get them. It should be possible to reach 

 the tops of -all trees with a long light ladder. If the tops of the trees 

 can all be reached from a step-ladder, so much the better. Besides 

 the pails of water, the fountain pump, and ladders, the bee-keeper will 

 need three or four baskets. Clothes-baskets are excellent. Upon one 

 side should be sewed a cover of burlap. When the swarm has been 

 shaken into the basket, the cover can be thrown over the top of the 

 basket, and will keep the bees from flying out. Blocks of wood nailed 

 to the corners of the cover hold it from being blown off or from 

 dropping into the basket, should the bees cluster upon the cover. If 

 set in a cool place, a swarm may be left in such a basket several hours. 

 When the hive is in readiness to receive the swarm, the cover to the 

 basket may be turned back, and the bees shaken down in front of the 

 hive. A few of the bees soon find the entrance, and set up their "call" 

 of a home is found, when the others follow them into the hive. If an- 

 other swarm comes out, and attempts to join the one just entering 

 its hive, a large sheet may be thrown over the hive. 



Where several swarms come out at the same time and unite, the 

 best that can be done is to divide them up as nearly equal as possible 

 into several swarms. When a queen is found she is to be caged. Any 

 swarm that has no queen will soon show its queenlessness by its rest- 

 lessness. The bees will begin running out of the hive and taking wing. 

 One of the caged queens should then be given such a swarm, when, as 

 by magic, the bees will change their behavior and go into the hive. 



