HIVING SWARMS OF BEES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1328, 30 August 1886, Page 2

HIVING SWARMS OF BEES.

Mr F. A. Hudson, apiarist, wrote to the Town and Country Journal : Noiicicg in your issue of July 31 a description of a hiving box, I should like to explain to the bee-keeping fraternity through your columns the kind of box used by me this season for a similar, purpose, with great success I a made box of thin bearding the same length as the hive, but only half the width, and furnished with an entrance like that ot an ordinary hive. In the centre 1 eat a rabbit for a glass frame to rest In, and on the bottom 1 nailed two pieces of wood so that when a fram» from any of the hives was placed in the box it was fairly fixed. When a swarm Issued from a hive 1 went to a strong colony previously determined opon, and took from it a frame of brood, shook the bees off it, and placed it in the hiving box. Then, when the swarm had clustered, 1 held the box under the cluster and gently shook the limb cf the tree on which they rested. When the greater part of the swarm was in the box, I placed It on the ground, and covered the top with a cloth for a few momenta to enable the flying bees to enter which they readily did. I then carried the box to the hive in which I wished to place the swarm, lifted oat the frame of brood, which had become covered with bees, and placed ft in the hive. I then shook- the remaining bees out of the box in front of the hive. Since adopting thia system I hare not had a single swarm abscond after placing it in the hive, as the frame of brood gave them something to do at once, and so absorbed their attention. The whole proceedings do not, as a rule, occupy more than fifteen minutes.