198 AKXIFICIAL SWARMING. 



venient to receive frames that are lifted out for examination. 

 In returning the frames to a hive, care must be taken not to 

 crush the bees where their ends rest upon the rabbets ; they 

 must be put in very slowly, so that a bee, when he feels the 

 slightest pressure, may have a chance to creep from under 

 them before he is hurt. 



When the hive is to be shut up again, the surplus honey- 

 board must not be laid down over the frames, as this might 

 crush some of the bees. It should be very carefully slid 

 on, so that any bees which are in the way may he pushed 

 before it, instead of being crushed. A beginner will find it 

 to his advantage to practice the directions which I have 

 given for opening and shutting hives, and lifting out the frames, 

 with an empty hive, until he is confident that he fully under- 

 stands ihemi If any bees are upon such parts of the hive 

 as to be imprisoned, if the outside cover is closed, it should 

 be propped up a little, until they have flown to the entrance 

 of the hive. 



It cannot be too deeply impressed upon the bee-keeper, 

 that all his motions must be slow and gentle, and that the 

 bees must not be injured or breathed upon. If he will care- 

 fully follow the directions I have given, he may soon open a 

 hundred hives, and perform any necessary operation upon 

 ihem, without any bee-dress, and yet with very little risk of 

 being stung. But I almost despair of being able to con- 

 vince even the most experienced Apiarians of the ease and 

 safety with which bees may be managed on my plan, until 

 they have actually been eye-witnesses of its successful 

 operation. 



I can make an artificial colony in ten minutes from the 

 time that I open the hive, and if I see the queen as quickly 

 as I often do, in not more than five minutes. Ffteen minutes 

 will be a very liberal average allowance of time to an expert. 



