100 PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 
are known to be old. It is best to hive these 
bees on built-out combs where possible, and feed 
them up rapidly. If this cannot be done, five or 
six sheets of foundation must be given to them, 
and they may winter on a contracted brood-nest 
of-that extent. 
Comb building at this season should be spared 
them when possible. It is to the advantage of 
the bee-keeper to obtain his bees as soon after 
the beginning of August as he can, and to this 
end he should be early afoot—or perhaps I ought 
to say awheel—among the outlying districts. Many 
old skeppists will probably be averse to having 
their bees taken up at this early date. Then it 
should be explained to them that except in odd 
districts, or in heather localities, the skeps get 
lighter nearly every week after the end of July, 
and this they~may easily prove if they take the 
trouble to weigh them. 
It is not a, bad plan to go round in early spring 
and make arrangements with cottagers for the 
driving of their bees at the end of the season, and 
if a trifling amount per skep is offered there. will 
usually be little difficulty in settling the matter. 
In hiving the bees they should be treated ex- 
actly as swarms, and then fed as rapidly as they 
will take the syrup. A good set of driving irons 
may be made by taking some stout wire, about 
one-eighth thick, and bending it to the desired 
form. 
