196 AUSTRALASIAN 



that the bee-keeper can lay his hand on the necessary appliances 

 at a moment's notice. All the new hives likely to be required 

 for the season's increase should be placed in position, according 

 to the directions given in Chapter V., great attention being 

 paid to the proper bedding and levelling of the bottom boards. 

 In the next place it is necessary to have some kind of 



SWARM-BOX 



or other contrivance in which to take a swarm previous to 

 hiving it. Some form of box is generally used, though a 

 round-bottomed bag with a light hoop of stout wire or cane 

 sewn round the mouth of it to keep it open is a very handy 

 device, especially for fastening to the end of a light pole to 

 take a swarm settled above arm's reach. The bag, if large 

 enough, may be put right round the cluster, and with the aid 

 of the hoop the bees can be scraped, as it were, off the branch, 

 and so be taken with ease. Mr. T. J. Mulvany, jun., uses for 

 this purpose a light box about 20 inches long by 10 or 11 wide 

 and deep, to which is attached an open sack of stout calico 

 about two feet long. One end of this sack-like appendage is 

 tacked round the open part of the box, the other end being 

 open and bell-mouthed, just large enough to fit over a Lang- 

 stroth hive. In each end of the box there is a ventilating 

 hole about 3 inches in diameter, over which is tacked per- 

 forated zinc. The mode of using it in taking a swarm will be 

 described further on. As a receiving box when driving bees, 

 or for carrying a swarm in, I do not know of a more handy 

 contrivance. I have had one in use — that Mr. Mulvany kindly 

 presented me with — through two seasons, and I have found it 

 of great service. The main points to look to in whatever form 

 of implement may be chosen are lightness, strength, dura- 

 bility, and handiness. With regard to the latter feature, each 

 individual bee-keeper will have his own ideas ; and I need 

 only here remark that I find a plain box made out of |-inch 

 material 18 inches square by 10 inches deep to suit me very 

 well. 



TAKING AND HIVING SWARMS. 



To many people the taking of a swarm and hiving it appears 

 rather a dangerous operation, whereas there is nothing con- 

 nected with the work that need excite the least alarm or 



