200 
SUMMER. 
the entrance, thereby nearly or quite closing it, and 
preventing others going in, when they will gather on 
the outside. You can expedite the matter with a stick 
or quill, by gently pushing them away ; and another 
portion will enter. When gentle means will not in- 
duce them to go in, in a reasonable time, and they ap- 
pear obstinate, a little water sprinkled on them will 
facilitate operations greatly, when nothing else will. 
(Be careful and not over-do the matter, by using too 
much water, they can be so wet as not to move at all.) 
When they cluster on a branch that you do not 
wish to cut off, place your bottom-board as near as 
convenient ; on it lay two sticks about an inch in di- 
ameter, of the same length ; try the hive, and see that 
all is right; then turn it bottom up, directly under the 
main part of the cluster; if you have an assistant, let 
him jar the branch sufficiently to detach the bees; 
most of them will fall directly into the hive. If no 
assistant is at hand it is unnecessary to wait, (I have 
done it a hundred tim es without help); with the bot- 
tom of the hive strike the under side of the branch 
hard enough to dislodge them, then turn it on the 
board ; the sticks will prevent the bottom crushing 
many bees. 
WHEN OUT OF REACH. 
I have gone up a ladder fifteen feet, got the bees 
in the hive in this way, and backed down without 
difficulty. After putting the hive in its place, some- 
times a part will go back ; in that case, a small branch 
full of leaves should be held directly under and close 
