SWAKMING AND HIVING. 167 



When the bees have quietly clustered around their Queen, 

 preparations should be made to hive them without any un- 

 necessary delay. The headlong haste of some Apiarians, 

 which, by throwing them into a profuse perspiration, renders 

 them very liable to be stung, is altogether unnecessary. The 

 yery fact that the bees have clustered, after leaving the 

 parent slock, is almost equivalent to a certainty that they 

 will not leave, for at least one or two hours. All convenient 

 despatch should be used, however, lest other colonies issue 

 before the first one is hived, and attempt to add themselves, 

 as they frequently do, to the first swarm. The proper 

 course to be pursued, in such a case, will be subsequently > 

 explained. If my hives are used, the entrance, on the whole* 

 front must be opened, so that the bees may have every 

 chance to enter as rapidly as possible ; and a sheet must be 

 securely fastened to the alighting-board, to keep the bees 

 from being separated from each other or soiled by dirt, for 

 a bee thoroughly covered with dust or dirt, is almost sure to 

 perish. If the common hives are used, they must be prop- 

 ped up on the sheet, so as to give the bees a free admis- 

 sion. When the bees alight where they can be easily reached 

 from the ground, the limb on which they have clustered, 

 should, with one hand, be shaken, so that they may gently 

 fall into a basket held under them, by the other. If the 

 basket is sufiiciently open to admit the air freely, and not so 

 open as to allow the bees to get through the sides, it will 

 answer all the better. The bees should now be gently sha- 

 ken, or poured out, on the sheet, in front of their new home. 

 If they seem at all reluctant to enter, take up a few of them 

 in a large spoon, and shake them close to the entrance. 

 As they go in, they will fan with their wings, and raise a 

 peculiar note, which communicates to their companions, the 

 joyful news that they have found a home ; and in a short 

 14 



