It generally happens that in about fifteen minutes the bees regularly commence the ascent; their exodus will be known by the distinct rushing sound which is always noticed when a colony of bees is on the move. The first thing bees do when disturbed is to till their honey bags, as they invariably do at swarming time, consequently after the first rush into the new hive is over, as in the case of a swarm, the "flitting" bees are not much disposed to take wing. When the noise made by the ascending bees has been heard, and has in good degree subsided, the cloth may be removed, and the old hive, now deserted, may be taken indoors, and if a few bees yet remain, they may be brushed off with a feather. An experienced apiarian on first hearing the rushing noise before mentioned, will not hesitate to tilt the top hive over a little on one side, so that he may watch the bees during the ascent; the queen may be seen passing up, and if the operator desires to take her away, he can secure her by placing a wine glass over her. This expedient is often resorted to in the autumn when stocks are to be united, for in such a case the removal of the queen prevents some fighting. If the taking of the honey be the object of the bee-master, then "driving" is manifestly a better plan than to resort to the fumes of sulphur for the purpose; for the bees from whom their store is taken, can be joined to stocks that are weak in numbers, with considerable advantage to the future prosperity of the apiary. When the removed bees are to be joined to another stock, the operator will proceed as follows:--At dusk, dislodge the bees on to a cloth, sprinkle them with sweet syrup, and place the hive to which it is intended to join them, over the mass; they will gradually ascend into the hive placed for them, and early next morning the hive, with its slender stock thus augmented, may be removed to its stand. Should the operator not have been successful, or not sufficiently skilful to gain possession of the queen, he may leave it to the bees themselves to decide which queen they will have. By this plan of "driving," artificial swarms may be secured by an "expert" even in common hives, though those do not afford the facilities for such a purpose as do the bar, or bar-and-frame, hives. CHANGING OLD STOCKS TO NEW HIVES.