240 SWARMING. 



ing honey ; brush off the bees, and place it in the 

 empty hive that is to receive the swarm, (this will 

 prevent their leaving) occupying the same position 

 in the new hive that it did in the old one ; then ar- 

 range the hive, with the frames all in place and the 

 honey-board on, to prevent the bees ascending ; raise 

 the front slide two inches and open the upper en- 

 trance, to allow ample room for the bees to enter ; 

 the stool should be set as near the place of alighting 

 as convenient, and the hive, as prepared, set on it ; 

 all is now ready to hive the swarm. The prepara- 

 tions should be made, as much as possible, before- 

 hand. It is well to sprinkle a little cold water on the 

 cluster, after a part of the swarm alights, as it serves 

 to tame the bees and prevents the tendency to fly 

 away. The branch that they cluster on may be cut 

 off, and, with its burthen, laid at the entrance of the 

 hive ; or, if they are on a valuable tree, from which 

 it is undesirable to cut a limb, take a shallow, light 

 box or basket, and either shake or brush the bees 

 from the limb into it, and pour them out at the 

 entrance of the hive ; (this is done when only a 

 small part of the bees have alighted) most of them 

 will again take wing. Repeat this shaking two or 

 three times, or until many bees are found in the 

 hive and on the stool in front of it. The tree or 

 branch that they alight on is kept shaking, and a 

 smoke is made, or a cloth saturated with turpentine 

 (wormwood or other bitter herbs have the same effect) 

 is put where the bees are realighting ; this drives 



