Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/249

Rh inches long, in the hive, and care should also be taken to choose that which is made of very white wax. This piece being supported by a stick passed through it, offers to the bees a kind of nest, and excites them to continue their work.

The new hive being thus prepared, the manner of introducing the bees into it, from an old hive, is as follows: the latter must be placed upon one of the boxes of the new one; but as it will seldom happen that they are of the same size, and exactly fit each other, a board, at least as wide as the largest of the two hives, and which has a hole equal in size to the smallest, must be placed between them, and completely joined with cement, or by any other means, in such a manner as to be quite close, and to leave the bees no passage except into the new hive. As these insects generally work downwards, they will soon get into the new hive; and, when it is occupied by about one-half of the swarm, some holes must be made in the top of the old hive, and kept covered, till the proper time for making use of them.

Every thing being disposed as above directed, we must take the opportunity of a fine morning (but not a very hot one), about eight or nine o'clock, at which time most of the bees are generally out of the hive, gathering their harvest. The comb is to be cut through, by means of a piece of iron wire, and the old hive, with the board on which it stands, is to be separated from the new one. An assistant must immediately place the cover (already well fitted) upon the top of the new hive. The old hive is then to be taken away, to the distance of thirty or forty paces, and to be there placed upon two chairs, or other supports, in such a manner as to be quite firm, but leaving a free space, both above and below, for the following purpose.

Upon this old hive (the holes at the top of it being first opened) is to be placed one of the boxes of the new hive, having the cover loosely fastened on it, so that it can easily be removed; this box must be fixed upon the old hive, in such a manner (by closing the intervals between them with linen cloths, &c.) that the bees, upon going out by the holes in the top of the old hive, can only go into the new one. In order to drive them into it, some live coals must be placed under the old hive, upon which a few linen rags may be thrown, to produce a great volume of smoke. As the smoke rises, the bees, being incommoded by it, will ascend to the top of the old hive, and at length will go through the holes into the new one. When all the bees, or nearly all, are gone into it (which may be known by looking in at the little door, or by their noise), it is to be removed gently from the old hive, and placed under the box already alluded to, the top or cover being previously taken off. The next morning, if it should appear that the two boxes, of which the new hive is now composed, do not afford sufficient space for the bees, a third box may be added, under the others; and after that a fourth, if necessary, as their work goes on, changing them from time to time, so long as the season permits the bees to gather wax and honey.

In performing the operations here described, it will be necessary to defend the hands and face from