160 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



many workers are abroad, in order that they may l>e 

 induced to adhere to the parent-stock. Many bee-keepers, 

 however, may prefer to make their swarms eai'ly in the 

 morning, or late in the afternoon, when few bees are at 

 work. In this case, a proper number of adherents may be 

 obtained for the parent-stock, by shaking out the bees from 

 the forcing-box on a sheet, that as they enter the hive 

 in which they are permanently to reside, many may take 

 wing, and return to the decoy-hive. If the number is still 

 too small, after most of the bees have entered the new 

 hive, the sheet with some adhering to it may be carried to 

 the decoy-hive. After these bees show that they miss 

 their queen, by running in great confusion in and out and 

 over the hive, the parent-hive must be presented to them, 

 and when they have entered it, removed to a new position 

 in the Apiary, and the forced swarm returned to the old 

 stand. If one-quarter of the bees are left in the parent- 

 stock, the supply will be ample ; larger, indeed, than is 

 usually left in natural swarming. 



If there are in the Apiary several old stocks standing 

 close together, it is highly desirable in performing these 

 various operations, that the decoy-hive, and that for the 

 forced swarm, should be of the same shape and even color 

 with that of the parent-stock. If they are very unlike, and 

 the returning bees attempt to enter a neighboring hive, 

 because it resembles their old home, the adjoining hives 

 should have sheets thrown over them, to hide them from 

 the bees, until the operation is completed. 



I have sometimes obtained a- supply of adhering bees 

 for the parent-stock, by placing it on the old stand, and 

 removing the forced swarm to a new location. The larger 

 part of the bees will of course return to their former home ; 

 some, however, will remain with their queen, and begin to 

 labor in the new hive. In two or three days, exchange the 



