HIVING. I05 



the bees underneath ; as alfo to prevent in-* 

 juring any of them. 



It may be remarked that fwarms often 

 fettle without a queen ; which, therefore, 

 proves, that it is not the queen that leads 

 and begins the clufter. Moll likely thofe 

 that are mod inclined fettle firft, and the 

 reft naturally follow ; as fheep through a 

 hedge. 



Instruments neceflary for hiving are, 

 an empty box or fizye, a hive floor, or loofe 

 board, a large cloth, two fmall wedges, and 

 a long fork, or crook-flick. 



To hive bees, let the apiator take the 

 hive inverted, and leifurely introduce the 

 hive under the clufter as conveniently as 

 can be without diilurbing the bees; then 

 with the left hand give the bough two or 

 three fmart fhakes, which will caufe the 

 greater part of the clufter to fail into the 

 hive : nimbly take ,it away, and turn it on 

 one edge on the floor, and the other on the 

 wedges ; draw the cloth up over the hive, 

 leaving the raifed part open. The bees, as 

 may be expected, will be in great confuiion, 

 and make a great buz, but will immediately 



begin 



