158 UNITING SWARMS OR STOCKS. 



procured a plate of tin, the size of a divider, and 

 thickly perforated with holes, about the size of 

 those in a coarse nutmeg-grater. Having confined 

 in their respective hives or boxes, the two families 

 to be united, and placed them over each other, 

 with only a divider between them ; he introduced 

 his perforated tin plate upon the divider, which 

 was then withdrawn. Immediately the bees began 

 to cluster with hostile intentions, one family cling- 

 ing to the upper, the other to the under side of the 

 perforated plate ; when after remaining in this state 

 for about twenty- four hours, they had so far com- 

 municated to each other their respective effluvia, 

 and so completely commixed were the odours in 

 both hives, that on withdrawing the perforated 

 plate, the bees mingled together as one family, no 

 disturbance being excited, but such as arose from 

 the presence of two queens, the custom being 

 always, in such case, to dethrone one of them* 

 According to Huber this is effected by single com- 

 bat between the queens : which subject will be 

 adverted to in a future chapter. KEYS has ob- 

 served that these incorporations seldom turn to ac- 

 count unless they be effected in summer ; and when 

 it is considered that the principal gathering months 

 are May and June, (excepting in those neighbour- 

 hoods that abound in lime, sycamore, and other 

 trees that are apt to be affected with honey-dew,) 



