HIVES 23 
heaviest was always selected for clearing, it 
necessarily followed that in destroying the bees 
the best queens were sacrificed. 
The usual plan of ‘‘taking’’ a skep hive 
was to dig a hole about a foot deep, not quite 
large enough to hold the skep. A few red 
hot cinders were placed on the bottom and 
on these was scattered brimstone. Then the 
skep was placed over the hole and the bees 
smothered by the sulphur fumes. It was a 
cruel and wasteful practice and it is strange 
that it should survive in these days when the 
knowledge of better and more economical 
methods is within reach of all. 
Unless, however, disease is rampant in the 
district the ‘‘skepist’’ is oftentimes a bene- 
factor to a neighbouring up-to-date apiarist by 
supplying him with swarms, or “ driven”’ 
bees. 
The capacity of a skep is sometimes in- 
creased by means of an ‘“‘imp’’ made of 
straw of the same circumference as the base 
of the skep on which the hive is placed. 
Another method is to use bell glasses and 
sections as a ‘‘super’”’ placed over the feed- 
hole of the hive. 
Although it can find no place in profit- 
able bee-keeping—unless it be for temporarily 
