228 GENERAL HONEY HARVEST. 



a loud humming noise expressive of their trepidation. 

 The hives are then separated, that containing the 

 bees is placed on its usual pedestal, and the other 

 containing the honey is carried off. The union is 

 next to be effected. Turn up the stock -hive which 

 is to receive the addition to its population, with a 

 bunch of feathers, or a small watering-pan, such as 

 is used for watering flower-beds, drench them with 

 a solution of ale and sugar, or water and sugar, made 

 a little warm. Do the same to the expelled bees ; 

 and then placing these last over the stock, mouth to 

 mouthj a smart rap on the top of the hive will drive 

 them down among the bees and combs of the under- 

 most hive. Place this last on its pedestal, and the 

 operation is completed. The strong flavour of the 

 solution will prevent them from distinguishing be- 

 tween friend and stranger ; and their first movement, 

 after recovering from their panic, will be to lick the 

 liquid from one another's bodies. This mode of 

 operating is applicable to all kinds of hives. It will 

 be an advantage, though attended with a little addi- 

 tional trouble, to search for, and destroy the queen 

 ftf the expelled bees, before the union takes place. 

 Two queens cannot subsist together in one hive. 

 VVhen two hives are united, therefore, what becomes 

 of the supernumerary queen ? She is put to death 

 by the bees generally within twenty- four hours from 

 the time of the union. But as the bees are the 

 executioners, it is within the bounds of possibility 

 that both queens may fall a sacrifice. The followers 

 of one queen may seize upon her rival,, and destroy 



