200 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



thus induced to enter they will very soon set up a 

 call, as much as to say, "Eureka, 1 ' or, We've found 

 it, when all will very soon enter and take possession 

 of it. Sometimes, however, they will cluster about 

 the entrance, appearing unwilling to enter, when 

 they should be pushed or brushed with a quill or 

 bunch of leaves, or some water sprinkled over them 

 — a very little is sufficient. This should only be used 

 when they are obstinate. A small box should be at 

 hand, into which they may be brushed, if they alight 

 on a fence or a post, or any such thing, and then put 

 down gently at the entrance of the hive. Should 

 they take wing very rapidly to escape from the box, 

 a cloth thrown over it will prevent them from leav- 

 ing. 



When they cluster on the limb of a high tree, a 

 long ladder should always be in readiness, and also a 

 rope, such as is used for a clothes-line. A person 

 should ascend the ladder, with a line-toothed saw and 

 one end of the rope ; if the limb is too heavy to 

 carry down in the hand, pass the rope over a limb, if 

 possible, occupying a higher position than the one on 

 which the bees are clustered, make it fast to the 

 branch occupied by the bees, an attendant holding 

 the lower end of the rope ; proceed to saw off the 

 limb, being careful to jar it as little as possible. The 

 attendant below can now lower it gradually until it 

 reaches the ground, when the bees can be put in, as 

 has been directed. Should they, however, cluster in 

 a position where it would not be desirable to cut off 

 a limb, a box or basket should be used to brush them 



