CHAPTER XVI 
DRIVING BEES 
ALL apiarists should be able to drivé beés, and 
especially those who reside in country districts 
where skeps are much in use. Skeppists are 
often only. too willing to allow their skeps to be 
driven at the end of the honey flow, and the acqui- 
sition of these bees supplies the modern bee- 
keeper with an opportunity of strengthening his 
weak stocks at a nominal cost. I do not advise 
the buying of driven bees, but where they can be 
procured for the trouble of driving, or for a 
small consideration, they are most useful. 
There are two methods of driving, open and 
close, and it is with the former that we have to 
deal. The latter method is not largely used now, 
but I may say that it consists of inverting a full 
skep upon its crown and turning down upon it 
another empty skep of the same size. The junc- 
tion is secured with a cloth, and by drumming 
upon the bottom skep the bees may be caused to 
ascend into the one placed to receive them. There 
is too much working in the dark with this method, 
however, which with open driving does not exist. 
Practically, all that is required for open driving 
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