The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1871-09-21
Driving Bees from the Hive.

piiNiHb DNNp INV 's'N'
Choose that part Of n pleasant day
when many bees arc abroad, and If
any arc clustered on the bottom board
or outside of tho hive, puff among
them a few whifls OF smokc-that
from spunk is bcst-so as to drive
them up among the combs. The bees
will 20 up most readily If the hive
is tipped back, or elevated by small
wedges, about one quarter of an inch
above the bottom-board. Have in
readiness n box, which | shalkcall
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. diameter Is
about the same with that of the hive
from which you intend to drive The
swarm. Lift the hive from the bot
tom-board without tho slightest jar,
turn It over, and carefully carry il
Off about u rod, as bees, If disturbed,
are much moro inclined to be peace
able when removed a short distance
from their familiar stand. If the hive
is gently placed upside down on the
ground, scarcely q bee will fly out,
and there will be little danger of be-
Ing stung. The timid and inexpcrl-
cnccd should protect themselves
with q bcc-dress, and may gently
sprinkle the bees with sugar-watcr,
or blow more smoke among them,
as soon as the hive Is inverted. After
placing it on the ground, the forcing
box must be put oyer 1t, and every
opening between it and the hive,
from which n bee might escape,
should be stopped with paper, or amy
convenient material. The forcing
box, If smooth inside, should have
Stats fastened onc-third of the dis
lance from the top, to aid the bees in
clustering.
AS soon os tho aplarian has con-
fined the bees, he should place an
empty livC-which | shall call the
dccoy hivc-upon their old stand,
which those returning from the field
may enter, instead of dispensing to
other hives, to meet, perhaps, with an
ungracious reception. AS n general
rule, however, q bee with q load of
honey or bcc-bread, after the extent
of his resources is asccrtaincd. Is
pretty sure to be welcomed by any
hive to which he may carry his
treasure; while q poverty stricken
unfortunate that prcsumcs to claim
their hospitality IL usually at once
destroyed. The one meets with as
nattering n reception n q wealthy
gentleman proposing to take up his
abode in a country village, while tn"
other is as much an object of dislike
as Il poor man, who bids fair to be-
como a public charge.
TO return to our imprisoned bees;
there hive should be beaten smartly
with the palms OF the hands, or two
small rods, on the side to which the
combs are attached, 80 as to run no
risk of loosening them. These crap
pings" although not of q very "Jspir-
itual" character, produce, ncvcrthc-
less, a decided effect upon the bees.
Their first impulse, if no smoke were
used, would be to sally out, and wrcak
their vengeance on those who rudcly
assail their honicd dome; but as soon
~ they inhalc its fumes, and feel the
terrible conclusions Of their once
stable abode, n sudden fear that they
arc TO be driven from their treasures,
takes possession Of them. Deter
mined to prepare for this urccrcmo-
NOUS writ of election, by carrying
Off what they can, each bee begins to
lay in u supply, and in about five
minutes, all nre filled to their utmost
capacity. A prodjgious hnmming Is
now heard, rs they begin to mount in
to the upper box nnd in about fifteen
minutes from the time the rappin&
bcgnn-if it has been continued with
hut slight intcrmi"sions-thc mass
of the bees, with their queen, will
hang clustered in the i6rcing-box,
like any natural swarm, and may, at
the proper time, be readily shaken
out, ON n sheet, in front of their in
tended hivc.-LanySh'oM ~ TIC Bee.