82 HOW TO KEEP BEES 



a little each clay, until its entrance, which should be 

 contracted, is parallel to the entrance of the new- 

 hive, and very close to it. If, on the seventh day 

 after the first swarm issued, the old hive be removed 

 to some new location, its numbers will have been so 

 depleted that there will be no attempt to send off 

 after-swarms. 



HOW TO UNITE COLONIES 



If two colonies are weak late in the season, it is 

 often best to unite them. This may be done by 

 moving the hives nearer to each other, a little each 

 day, until they are side by side. The queen of one 

 colony is killed, the best frames from each hive are 

 alternated with each other in one hive, and the 

 bees shaken into this; the other hive removed, and 

 the one remaining placed midway between where 

 the two stood. Sweetened water flavoured with 

 peppermint may be sprayed over both colonies just 

 before uniting, so that they will all be scented alike. 

 The above is the method advised by Professor Cook. 



