THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



153 



are the disposition of the united colon- 

 ies to fight with each other, and thus 

 prevent the effect desired, and if they 

 do unite peaceably, the furthur dispo- 

 sition of the old bees to return to their 

 old stand on the first day when it is 

 warm enough for them to fly out. 



In a small apiary it is quite easy to 

 overcome the latter obstacle by moving 

 the colonies, intended to be united, a 

 short distance each pleasant day, till 

 they are close beside each other, when 

 of course the trouble spoken of, is en- 

 tirely done away with. If, however, the 

 hives are so situated with relation to 

 each other, that they cannot lie thus 

 moved, the bees occupying them, can 

 ordinarily be made to return to the new 

 location, by setting up a board in front 

 of the new hive, which being an ob- 

 struction, causes them to mark a new 

 location, aud return to it, especially if 

 the old hive is removed entirely, and 

 the appearance of the old location radi- 

 cally changed. 



The most serious trouble, however, 

 (as the matter of location is trivial) has 

 been usually considered to be the union 

 itself, owing to fear that the colon- 

 ies would destroy themselves at once by 

 fighting; this fear, howerer, is needless, 

 as it is an easy matter to unite two or 

 more colonies without trouble, if a few 

 simple precautions are taken. 



In the first place the queen that's the 

 least desirable, should be removed from 

 its colony, and may be utilized else- 

 where if desired. The frames in one 

 of the hives should he spread apart, and 

 the frames of the other, with adhering 

 bees, should by placed alternately be- 

 tween them. If the queen is an extra 

 choice one, she may be caged for a 

 day or two, as a precautionary measure, 



but there is so little danger of her being 

 disturbed, that I never do so. Of course 

 the bees should be treated to a little 

 smoke before attempting the operation, 

 and if any quarrelling should take place 

 after the union, a little more smoke 

 may he given them, hut I have found 

 them to unite quite peaceably in every 

 instance, and have never known a queen 

 to be molested, even if not caned. 



My theory in legard to the matter 

 is this: The alternating of the frames of 

 comb from each hive, so separates each 

 colony from itself, and so mixes the 

 bees up, that they become, to a certain 

 extent, exceedingly bothered by the 

 new state of things, and have something 

 else to think about besides quarrelling, 

 but whatever may be the cause 

 hereof , I have united many colonies in 

 this way without any trouble whatev- 

 er, and consider it so safe and easy, 

 that I do not give the matter a second 

 thought. As I do others can do easi- 

 ly, and I advise all to unite weak col- 

 onies in the fall as a means of their 

 preservation. — Pond. 



A MINE OF HONEY. 



Down at Temescal, San Bernardino 

 county, near die famous San Jacinto 

 tin mine, there is veritable mine of 

 honey. There is large force of men 

 employed at the tin mine, and they put 

 in their idle time prospecting in the 

 hills of the vicinity. One Sunday half a 

 dozen 6f the miners applied to Colonel 

 Robinson, the superintendent, for the 

 privilege of using some giant powder 

 and a few tools. He asked them what 

 they wanted to do, and they replied 

 that they had found a honey mine, 

 and they proposed to tap it. Laughing, 

 he gave his consent and an order on 

 the storekeeper for the desired articles, 



