NATURAL INCREASE. 
13 
work of a few seconds ; but difficulties are at times 
met which tax both the patience and ingenuity of the 
bee-keeper. If the point of settlement be a bough at 
a considerable height from the ground, the easier 
plan is to place a ladder so that the bough may 
stand over the shoulder of the climber, who saws 
through the limb with as little shaking as possible, 
and now descends with the bees over his back. 
Unless very roughly disturbed, the swarm is not likely 
to depart during the operation ; but it is, nevertheless, 
wiser to use the syringe cautiously before the sawing 
is attempted. Should this have been impossible, 
let the bees now be sprinkled with water, and then 
dropped, by a sudden shake of the bough, imme- 
diately in front of the hive to be occupied, which 
has been propped up an inch or so to give them 
ready entrance. Should they not turn to march in 
at once, scoop up two or three lots with a large 
card, and shoot them, with gentle violence, under 
the hive front. Their joyful note, indicating that 
they have found a house to let which just suits them, 
will immediately draw on the rest to take possession. 
The difficulty just supposed may be surmounted in 
other, perhaps better, ways. Fixing the skep on a 
fork, holding it aloft beneath the swarm, and bang- 
ing the bough with a long-handled rake, has been 
suggested by a well-known woodcut ; or the Shepherd 
swarm-taker and hook (A and B, Fig. 40) may be 
used. It consists of a lidless ^in. box. Sin. square at 
top, and I bin. deep, put firmly together, and bored 
on all sides with fin. holes, and having passed 
through it a strong, light pole. The second pole 
K 2 
