MANIPULATING. 



67 



on the outside of each side of the skep where it protrudes; now 

 replace the skep on its stand to collect the flying bees; when 

 they have returned and quieted down, spread the strainer-cloth 

 upon the ground, lift the hive mouth down upon this, and 

 gathering up the four corners of the cloth, 

 tie it round the skep securely with string. 

 After the bees are thus fastened in, the 

 hive can be inverted and two more strings 

 fastened round separately, four small wire 

 staples being driven in over these strings 

 to prevent their slipping up or down. The 

 hive has now only to be placed in a 

 hamper in its inverted position, labelled 

 "Live Bees— With Care" in large letters, 

 .. ji J r o ■ 3.nd then sent off to its destination. Where 

 Mefhod of Securing ^ hamper is not obtainable get the top of 

 °'" ■ an American cheese box, and coil a straw 



band within this, then set the hive on this band and cord it 

 tightly on ; the straw acts as a cushion, preventing violent 

 jarring. In packing straw skeps for travelling short distances, 

 where no changing of trains takes place, the corks and wire can 

 be dispensed with, but they must always be sent in an inverted 

 position, with the mouth of the skep covered either with strainer- 

 doth or perforated zinc. 



114. To Pack a Bar-frame Hive for Travelling. — 



This will require a little more attention than a straw skep, but 



usually bears the jour- ^ 



ney much better. The ^3:^ s^^^^^^^ Qirf:;^=^^===;(lS 

 articles used in the — 

 packing will be a 

 number of pieces of 

 the narrowest tape I^a 

 procurable, each 2 5 in. t 

 long, and a board = ' 

 I7in. wide and as t: I 

 long as will cover EH | 

 the entire number 

 of frames and the 

 dummy-board in the 

 hive. In this board p 

 an oblong hole is ^3; 

 made, at least 4in. 

 wide, and of the 

 greatest length that 

 the board will allow ; over this hole a piece of perforated zmc 

 is affixed. A few long screws and a narrow strip of perforated 

 zinc, of a size to cover over the entrance to the hive, are also 



F 2 



Flat Board Covering Frames. 



