53 
sliding under a thin board, and the openings from the 
hive or lower box may be closed with another board ; 
or an empty box may at once be substituted for the full 
one. Set the full boxes right side up, on the stand 
in front of the hive ; elevate them with strips of wood, 
about one-half of an inch from the board, and five or 
six inches from the entrance of the hive. The smoke first 
blown under will have caused the bees to fill themselves 
with honey, and the fear of being stung need not be 
felt. Rap gently on the box until the bees begin to 
leave for the hive ; the humming of those that enter 
will notify the others of their position near their home, 
and soon all will prepare in good earnest to leave the 
box. Should some remain in the boxes, and the 
weather is pleasant, the boxes may retain that position 
during the night, but must be removed before the bees 
begin to work in the morning, or else they will at once 
be at work carrying the honey to the hive. If pre- 
ferred, the boxes may be taken to an out-house, with 
an open door or window, and set on their sides; the 
bees will soon leave the box and return to their hive. 
Should other bees scent the presence of honey, the 
boxes should be set in a barrel or box, and the outside 
bees excluded, by spreading a thin cloth over the bar- 
rel ; the bees leaving the honey-boxes, will cluster on 
the under side of the cloth, and if this is occasionally 
turned over, and the bees shook off, they will find their 
way to their hive. If late in the season, and the boxes 
