May 1868. Hive bees at back ventilator so that they will not stop in portico and
and can enter more readily. 
e H
Hiving, swarms. Let the new [crossed out: illegible] hives be in readiness, when a swarm has
issued and the bees have clustered which they will do without any
tanging or noises of any kind, place the hive perfectly clean [inserted: in the shade] upon a
sheet [crossed out: and raised] in such a manner that the bees can readily enter it. Have
an open basket fixed upon a pole, elevate directly under the cluster of bees. 
Let the limb be jarred so that the mass of the bees will fall gently into the basket. 
Lower the basket and empty them out directly before the [inserted: entrance of the] hive. If their queen is
with them they will soon ascend, [crossed out: If they fl] and those still on the tree will
join them. If they fly back to the tree, the queen is still there, and the process
must be repeated, although this will be rarely necessary. As soon as the bees
have ascended carry the hive to the place where it is to stand for the season. This
may be delayed until evening or very early next morning, but not without some
risque, for if the bees have sent out scouts to seek a new place and these return and
find the bees near where they lit, they will often entice them to [crossed out: leave] [inserted: desert] the hive. I am convinced
that this is often the cause of bees leaving. If the bees cluster low down no
pole will be needed. If the limb is too high to be shaken, a rope with a stick
at one end may be thrown over it, and it may be shaken by jerking the rope. This method
of hiving will be found much better in all ordinary cases than any other. It avoids
all necessity of climbing, using ladders, sawing limbs often to the injury of valuable
trees. [crossed out: illegible] Pine bushes about six feet high may be stuck into the ground about
a rod in front of the hives, the bees will generally light upon them and thus much
trouble will be saved in hiving them. If the bees cluster upon the branch of a
tree they must be gently brushed off into the basket with a wing or something which
will not injure them. Bees before swarming fill themselves with honey and are
almost always very peaceable. Indeed it may [crossed out: also] be assumed as a law in bee
science that a bee with a full stomach is never disposed to act on the offensive. 
Those which are cross at such times are some poor unfortunates who have sallied
forth on an empty stomach. The beginner may if he is very timid use a
bee dress, but I do not recommend it. It destroys much of the pleasure in the
management of bees, and is always more or less in the way. 
frames [inserted: to rabbets] good, bees can only cement those below, getting rid of shallow chamber filled with combs good. 
To some this the great trouble with hive. Self regulating frames with combs lost, and bees cannot travel in
winter over the tops of frames, winter passages must be had. Bevel ends of top so as not to pinch bees, leave
only play enough to get them in and out easy. See G o