hiving. 95 



But as fometimes the combs are conftrucl> 

 ed obliquely, or tranfverfely, a fecond fpleet 

 is necelTary to take them in that direction. 

 In fact, common hives, having no occalion for 

 removes till they are taken up, need no fpleets^ 

 as verified by bees in hollow trees, &cc. 

 However, the two mentioned are enough for 

 any hive, even in the ftory method : mud* 

 lefs have they occafion for any fpleet near 

 the top, and which is generally fo prepof- 

 teroufly placed as to be very troublefome 

 and prejudicial to the honey, in taking the 

 combs out. 



No other preparation or drejjlng of hives 

 is neceflary, than that which I have men- 

 tioned. The employing herbs, and many 

 other fanciful articles, is of no ufe; but as 

 people are wedded to old cuftoms without 

 rational foundation, fugared or honeyed ale, 

 fprinkled in the top of the hive, is the moft 

 alluring fubftance that I know of. The 

 truth is, when a fwarm quits a clean hive, 

 it is for other caufes, and not through diftafte 

 of the hive, unlefs it is too fmall. 



It is cuftomary to make a tinklinq 

 noise to allure fwarms to fettle. Why 



it 



