40 chapman’s handy-book. 
When all is ready, blow a few puffs of^ smoke into the 
from Way Xf f you tarn up 0 tt,e°hivTwlhout so doing, the 
sentinel bees will most likely fly up mto your face a 1 
you do not take it quietly you “^fj^oombs, and 
The smoke drives the sentinels np pr v it 
deprives the whole swarm of its combatrveness^ How t 
affeets that organ, I do not pretend to ^ 
Have an empty lnve ready to put down P 
on which the full hive is standing, in order that, tl e b 
who are not at work may have some home to go into as 
thev return They will be surprised, indeed, at tinclu 0 
comVtaTt-no cells in which to deposit their loads i jou 
will see them running about in great anxiety, but as t e 
numbers increase, they will gradually 
taem, y and remata tolerably quiet till you have done your 
work, and are ready to return them to them own h 
This substitution of the empty hive for the tall one is ot 
great importance, as it gives the homeward bound bees a 
bouse of refuge, and prevents their straying into nei 0 
bourim- hives, where they are instantaneously appre¬ 
hended, and put to death. Then turn up the hive, taking 
particular care to turn the combs in their own planes: place 
the hive gently down on a table. If the box is not all full 
of comb, begin to cut out as much as the bees can spare at 
the side where the vacant space is; because it is easier to 
drive the bees from this end of the box, than from the 
other. Do this with a few puffs of smoke, and as soon as 
the bees have lei t the first comb quite clear, cut it from 
the top of the box by means of tlie lancet shaped bee kniie, 
which is made just long enough to cut through the combs 
Don’t let the comb fall down in the box, but, support it 
with one hand *, and when it is quite tree, lift it gently ou , 
letting it lay on your band with the side downwards, 
which is quite free from bees, and brush off with the 
feathers into the hive any stragglers which may be 
remaining on the upper side. A good deal of dexterity is 
required in handling so heavy, and yet so fragile a thing 
as a piece of white honey comb lull of honey; and yet sue 
