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THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
to the top. Should they cluster together and 
refuse to move from any particular part, a puff 
of smoke will at once set them running, or they 
may be helped forward with a feather or the 
finger. 
In chilly weather, or when honey is scarce, 
bees will be driven much more easily, if, after 
administering the first puff of smoke, we lift the 
hive and pour over their combs about a gill of 
warm, thin sprup, afterwards allowing them a 
quarter of an hour for licking it up. The excite- 
ment raises the temperature and puts them into 
first-rate order for the operation. 
Driving is inexpedient in the case of swarms, 
as their combs would be broken by the necessary 
flows, but it may be done when necessary if the 
combs be secured a few days previously by one 
or more skewers thrust through the sides of the 
hive right across the combs. 
The kind of driving above described is called 
‘ open driving.’ But the timid may prefer 
another method, known as ‘ close driving,’ 
which, however, is not recommended, as the 
presence and safety of the queen cannot be 
verified in her passage from one skep to the 
other. In this, the hive is treated and inverted 
as before ; but the upper box is so placed that 
the rims of both meet and correspond, while 
round the two a jack-towel, or strip of calico, is 
fastened to prevent the escape of any bees. The 
beating, as before, sends the bees above. The 
towel is Temoved and the stock and swarm 
treated as may be desired. 
In a fruit colony there will be plenty of 
blossom in the spring-time for bees to feed from. 
But blossom is needed by the bees through 
summer and autumn as well as spring. Nature’s 
provision for them is infinitely larger and is not 
confined to blossom. Many a time have I seen 
crowds of them round the rotting windfalls of a 
pear tree. But their staple nourishment is 
blossom nectar, and apart from the wild plants 
there are a few that can be grown near to their 
hives, which it may not he amiss to mention. 
Baron von Muller enumerated 6(5 different 
trees and plants suitable for bee food. But to 
most people it is an alphabetical list of Latin 
names of trees. In addition to the apple, 
almond, cherry, pear, plum, apricot, peach, there 
are Grevillia Bobusta, the gums, the willows, 
the hickories, American tulip tree, North 
American ebony tree, Wistaria, Magnolias, 
Locust Acacia. On account of its earliness 
and profusion of blossom, the cherry plum is 
particularly valuable. Of minor plants and 
cereals, the following may be mentioned : — 
Fuller’s Teazle, Lentils, Ivy, Buckwheat, 
.Sunflower, and all peas, .beans, clovers, thyme, 
sage, balm, rosemary, blackberry, dandelion, 
horehouud, marjoram, catmint, American horse- 
mint, honeysuckle, banana, melianthus major, 
protea mcllifera. An horticultural friend of 
mine used to have a large bed of Echium 
Candicans (Vipers Bugloss or Catapan) in front 
of his hives. The long blue spikes of this plant 
keep blooming for weeks. With the food at their 
doors, the hives were well and soon tilled. 
Wormwood is to be avoided where they are 
kept.— James Matthew. Mildura Cultivator, 
USEFUL ADVICE. 
A strict account of income and expenditure 
should be kept by every beekeeper. 
The beekeeper should think more than once 
before he makes large purchases of expensive 
hives and appliances. 
Every novice should begin with cheap hives 
and such necessary appliances only as his common 
sense tells him are suitable. 
The increased yield of honey all desire must be 
produced by increased care and intelligence in 
management. 
Every beekeeper should have his bees ready to 
take advantage of the honey season. It is then 
supers and section boxes are to be filled. 
Wise management in the autumn has much to 
do with the success of spring. The hives must be 
strong and food plentiful. 
The quieter bees are kept during winter the 
better it is for them. When moving them be 
careful not to jolt the hive. 
If bees are robbed just when winter is coming 
| in, they will have to be fed or they will die. 
In feeding bees never give a large quantity at 
I once. It will do more harm than good. 
Always have the ground near the hive clean ; 
should a bee then fall fatigued by flight it may 
rise again. 
Let all weeds near a bee stand be turned under 
with a spade. 
If at all timid, put on a veil and gloves, and 
administer a few puffs of smoke to each stock 
some five or ten minutes before interfering with 
them. 
Have all stands for beehives moderately low, 
for as a rule, the old bee stands are too high. 
All hives should be placed where they will have 
partial shade from the oft overpowering heat of 
the sun. 
The distance from hive to hive should not be 
less than three feet. They will be better still (if 
there is room) six feet apart . — Mildura Culti- 
vator. 
AMERICAN SEEDS. 
Figwort, Spider Plant, Motherwort, Horsemint, 
Catnip, White Sage, Rocky Mountain Bee 
Plant. Assorted packets, 2s, 6d. and 5s. 
BEEKEEPERS SUPPLY CO., 
Franklin-street, Melbourne. 
