ABSTRACT
Another method, which did not involve killing the bees, could be used where there were sufficient late honey flows. Around midsummer, all the bees were 'driven' out of an upturned hive into an empty one (Figure 27.1d), before taking all the honey. The earliest reference to driving in England is probably that in Thomas Tusser's beekeeping instructions in verse, printed in 1557. The 1580 edition says 'At Midsummer drive them, And save them alive'. Butler (1609) gave more detailed instructions. Early in the morning at or near midsummer, fix the skep to be driven in an inverted position, quickly cover it with an empty skep, the two skeps being mouth to mouth, and seal the join between them by wrapping a cloth round it. Clap (drum) rhythmically with the hands on the sides of the full hive, pausing every now and then, and the bees will walk up into the empty hive. When most have done so, set the upper skep - now containing bees - on the stand the lower skep had occupied, so that any bees flying out will return there. Driving does not easily dislodge bees covering brood, and various strategies were devised for persuading bees on brood to leave it. The intention was that the driven bees should have time to build combs in the new hive, rear brood and store honey before the winter. But bees driven into a hive without any
combs often did not prosper, and Butler quoted the proverb: 'All covet, all lose.'
