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Select a strong stock, and if any of the bees are hang- 
ing on the outside, sprinkle them slightly with cold 
water and they will run into the hive ; pulT a breath of 
smoke into the hive, lift it gently from the stand, carry 
it off two or three rods and set it down with the mouth 
upwards ; take care not to give it the slightest jar, and 
the bees will not be much inclined to resent the opera- 
tion. Have a “driving box” ready, which may be a 
half bushel measure, a box the size of the hive, or an 
empty hive containing some cross-sticks on which the 
bees may cluster; place it upon the old hive, mouths 
or openings together, so that both may fit closely ; 
take a sheet, fold it lengthwise two or three times, and 
tie it around where the two hives join, stopping all the 
crevices so that the bees cannot escape. Give the old 
hive a few smart raps with the palms of your hands, or 
some small sticks, so as to thoroughly arouse the bees. 
They will become alarmed, and instantly commence 
filling themselves with honey. While they are filling 
themselves, take an empty hive, as much like the old 
one as possible, and set it upon the old stand to catch 
the returning bees, otherwise they would go to some 
neighboring stock. Return to the confined stock and 
continue to rap around the lower hive for about twenty- 
five or thirty minutes ; the loud buzzing and humming 
is an indication of the upward movement of the bees. 
After rapping during the time above mentioned, the 
upper box may be slightly raised for examination. If 
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