[ 33 | 
twice, or oftner, it be found that there are few Bees, 
they fhould be taken alfo, and none fulfered to ftand 
that do not at the leaft weigh 14 Pounds, which 
commonly includes all Catts ft for taking ; thofe 
that have few Bees, tho’ they be never fo well ftor- 
ed with Honey, will hardly continue to the next 
Spring, but become a Prey to Robbers, yet if you 
defire to fave any that are well fupplied, you may 
drive a fwarm into them that you intend to take, 
and fo make a gook Stock. 
The Hives may be examined in the Night by lift- 
ing them up, and looking into them with a Candle, 
or if you pat on the Outfide in the Day-time with 
our Hand, there will be a fudden Murmur in the’ 
Hine by the Difturbance ; ifthe Murmur be fudden 
and fhort, then it is a fign there are but few Bees, 
but if it be{mart, and long defcending from the Top 
downwards, then itis a fign there is plenty. 
I fuppofe the common Method of taking the Ho- 
ney and Wax by fmothering the Bees with Brim- 
ftone-Matches, in an Hole in the Ground under the 
Hive, to be too commonly known to be mentioned 
here.Several have been defirous of taking the Honey 
and Wax without deftroying the Bees, but taking 
their Food from them, is little fhort of ftarving 
them, and confidering they ‘are Annuals, the fmo- 
thering them isof little Confequence. Dr. Warder’s 
Bee-Boxes which I gave anAccount of betore,are de- 
figned to fave the Bees, and there is a common Me- 
thod of driving them, which tho’ to little Purpofe, 
for the main Profit, and very often attended with 
Damage to the main Stock, hath been much practif- 
ed; the Method 1s this. 
Let an empty Hive be prepared, of the fame Di- 
menfions as the Hive, from whence you intend to 
drive the Bees ; and having fpread a Cloth in a Paile 
or other Veffel, place the empty Hive with the 
Eg Mourh 
