270 COLONIZING. 



ing, when it is to be moved to a distance of one mile 

 or more, when the apertures for the bees' entrance 

 are to be opened, giving them their liberty. 



The vacancy in the old hive is filled with empty 

 frames and then closed up, except the place for 

 egress. If it is intended that the colony shall re- 

 main in the apiary where formed, instead of remov- 

 ing it to a distance, it is to be formed the same as 

 above, except that both combs should contain mature 

 brood instead of eggs and larvae; the queen cell 

 should be inserted in the center of the comb where 

 a portion of the brood have emerged, as shown in 

 plate XLI, fig. 68. The young bees are also to be 

 separated from the old ones.* This is done by shak- 

 ing them from the combs on a sheet ; the old ones take 

 wing and return to the parent hive, while the young 

 ones remain on the sheet. One-third of the bees 

 should remain, and be put in the new hive having 

 the combs as previously arranged ; before putting the 

 bees in the hive, they are to be examined to find if 

 the queen is among them, and if found, return her 

 to the hive from which she was taken. 



*During the season of rapid breeding, which is in the spring 

 and early summer, bees that are in a thrifty condition and have 

 a fertile queen, usually occupy a large proportion of their combs 

 with a generation of brood of nearly the same age. Hence, when 

 they emerge, the hive is in a fit condition to form colonies from 

 as above ; while if delayed a few days later, these young bees will 

 have marked the position of their home 1 ; consequently, if they are 

 afterwards taken to form colonies, and left in the same apiary, they 

 will, upon taking wing, return to the familiar spot. 



