154 UNITING SWARMS OR STOCKS. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



UNITING SWARMS OR STOCKS. 



THE union of swarms with their stocks, and of 

 swarms or stocks with each other, in case of their 

 being or becoming weak, has been attempted in 

 various ways, and with various success, depending 

 perhaps, in some degree, upon the skill and 

 adroitness of the operator. Upon the storifying 

 plan this operation will rarely be necessary, ex- 

 cepting in the case of weak stocks, as it is not 

 a very common occurrence for storified bees to 

 swarm, and when they do so, they generally throw 

 off strong swarms. Still the object may occasion- 

 ally be desirable, and it is worthy of attention, for 

 the tenants of well filled hives are always the most 

 active. 



The three usual methods by which union has 

 been attempted, and indeed their advocates say, 

 accomplished, are fuming them, immersing them in 

 water, and aspersing them with sugared or honeyed 

 ale. To these I may add a fourth, namely ope- 

 rating upon their fears, by confining them for a 

 time, and then alarming them by drumming 

 smartly upon the outside of their domicile. It 

 was operating on their fears that enabled Wildman 

 to perform such extraordinary feats with bees. 



