362 PROCESS OF EXTRACTING THE COMBS. 



any of the bees from escaping out of the hive. This 

 arrangement being completed, the lower hive is beaten 

 gently with the flat hands, or with sticks, for the purpose 

 of so alarming the bees as to force them to ascend into the 

 upper hive : and now arrives the trial of the patience of the 

 operator. In some instances we have known the bees to 

 ascend in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour, in others we 

 have not succeeded after knocking and thumping for three 

 or four hours ; and in some cases, we have been obliged to 

 desist altogether and relinquish it as a hopeless task. The 

 ascent of the bees into the upper hive is to be ascertained 

 by a loud humming noise, which is supposed to be indicative 

 of the queen having ascended into the upper hive ; and the 

 bees make known the fact to each other by the expressions 

 of their joy. The under hive being pretty clear of bees, 

 (for it is in vain to hope that all of them will have left it,) it 

 must be taken into some outhouse, during which time the 

 hive with the bees in it may be left covered up with the 

 table cloth or sheet. The process of extracting the combs 

 has been already described, and it having been accomplished 

 in this case, the deprived hive must be taken to its original 

 station and the bees returned to it. In order to effect this, 

 place a stool or chair exactly level with the entrance of the 

 hive, throw the table cloth over the chair, and, holding the 

 hive with the bees on it over it, give it a smart knock, on 

 which the bees will fall upon the cloth. Then guide a few 

 to the entrance, who will begin immediately to vibrate their 

 wings with joy ; the whole community will on hearing the 

 welcome sound hurry into the hive, and in ten minutes not 

 a bee will be left on the cloth. 



The deprivation in the Huish hive has been already 

 described, and, compared with the operation on a cottage 

 hive, it is one of facility, cleanliness, and expedition. Even 

 the common storifying hive possesses a great superiority 

 over the cottage hive, inasmuch as a portion of the produce 



