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and its Economic Management. 143 



^^ up the hives, place boards between each set. Plenty of straw is 

 , needed to give them an easy motion, but on no account is it to be 

 arranged so that the inverted hives rest directly upon it, though 

 some must be packed between to prevent sliding, or jolting 

 against each other. Place a good layer first upon the floor, spread 

 it out evenly, and then lay boards down ; on these place the first 

 set of hives ; then straw and boards again, thus always keeping a 

 clear space under the sacking next the frames. 



All covers and odd material must be packed separately, and 

 where the stock hives are simple square boxes, with no projection 

 whatever, the entire process will be more satisfactory and 

 expeditious. 



For Export, 



additional care will be necessary, while, a sponge must be pro- 

 vided at one side in a perforated box, with directions requesting 

 that the same rnay be moistened occasionally ; or a zinc vessel 

 may be supplied with a cotton wick held in a funnel reaching nearly 

 to the bottom that the water cannot be spilled. 



It may be necessary, according to the strength of the colony, 

 to give an outer case, thoroughly ventilated to provide for excessive 

 heat ; though when it is known that bees have to undergo a high 

 temperature, a nucleus only will travel far better and give more 

 satisfactory results than a full colony. 



On receipt of the Bees, 



they should be placed out where they are to stand permanently. 

 The packing need not be removed for a day or so, but the 

 entrances are to be opened as soon as the bees are a little quiet. 

 Do not liberate each hive in rotation, but go from one spot to 

 another as far distant as possible, and so let the first quiet down 

 before a neighbouring hive is opened. 



It is well not to examine the interior of the hives for two or 

 three days, that the bees may have first noted their location ; but 

 it will then be necessary to determine if any queens have been 

 lost, which frequently is the case. Where any are gone it will be 



