18S3.] BEE-KEEPING. 157 



it can be thrown out and the empty combs returned to be filled 

 again. In this way as many as four hundred pounds have been 

 taken from a single stock during the season. It is such an easy 

 matter to take the honey, there is great danger in robbing the 

 bees, and leavmg them short of winter stores. 



Another advantage of the frames is, it enables us to multiply 

 stocks at will. The importance of this can hardly be over esti- 

 mated, where a person has the charge of a large apiary. In 

 natural swarming one is obliged to yield to their caprices. After 

 days of unpleasant weather, a dozen swarms are liable to issue at the 

 same time, in which case some will double, and often three will 

 light in the same cluster. To separate them, take three hives and 

 place a frame of brood and empty comb in each ; this is to pacify 

 the bees. (I will here remark, that when hiving a natural swarm, 

 especially a second swarm, it will pacify them to place in their 

 hive a frame of brood.) Set one hive on each corner of the cloth, 

 with a dipper divide the bees equally among these hives, watch 

 for the queens and cage them; when all the bees are in the differ- 

 ent hives set them on their permanent stands. If all the queens 

 were found, liberate one in each hive. After two days examine 

 these new swarms, and the two that have no queens will be build- 

 ing queen cells, and the queen that is at liberty by this time 

 will be laying freely, so there can be no mistaking which swarm 

 she is in. Now liberate the two confined queens, one to each 

 queenless stock. 



In introducing queens a few rules are to be observed; one is, no 

 swarm that has a queen will accept another. Be sure that the 

 queen has the same scent of the swarm to which she is to be 

 introduced. This may be accomplished by smoking the swarm 

 with tobacco, or with common -'puff ball," or by suspending the 

 caged queen in the hive for thirty-six hours; then remove the 

 cork from one end of the cage, and substitute comb honey, 

 replace the cage, and the bees will soon liberate her. 



In artificial swarming, more properly termed dividing, a doz- 

 en different ways will naturally be suggested to the experienced 

 apiarian. Many give preference to the nucleus system. My prac- 

 tice has been to lift out one or two central combs from a strong- 

 colony, and place them in a hive with comb foundation, remove 

 this strong colony two or three rods and place on a new stand. 

 Set the new hive on the old stand. After two days examine the 



