ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 161 



position of the two hives, when enough bees which have 

 become accustomed to the new place, will return to it, to 

 carry on their operations in the parent-stock. This plan 

 has the advantage of retaining most of the bees in the 

 parent-stock, until the cells for rearing young queens are 

 begun ; it will also suit bee-keepers who are pressed for 

 time, and are obliged to force their stocks, early in the 

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

 abroad in the fields. 



If the parent-stock stands at some distance from others, 

 and resembles in shape, size, and color, that intended for 

 the forced swarm, a proper division of the bees may be 

 effected as follows : Place the parent-stock about six inches 

 to the right of the old stand, and the forced swarm as far 

 to the left ; so that the position of the old entrance shall 

 be about equally distant from each. If either colony con- 

 tains too few bees, it may be moved a little nearer to the 

 old entrance ; or it may be reinforced, after the bees have 

 gone to work, by closing the entrance of the stronger hive 

 until dark. 



If the old stocks stand close together, some prefer 

 another mode of forming the artificial swarm. After the 

 bees have been driven from the parent-stock, the forced 

 swarm is at once placed on the old stand, while the parent- 

 stock in which the proper number of bees has been left, 

 is set in a cool place, and shut up care being taken to 

 give them air until late in the afternoon of the third day. 

 It may now be put on its permanent stand, and opened an 

 hour or two before sunset, when the bees will take wing 

 almost as if intending to swarm. Some will join the 

 forced swarm on the old stand, but most, after hovering a 

 short time in the air, will re-enter their hive. While the 

 entrance was closed, thousands of young bees were hatch- 

 ed, and these, knowing no other home, will all unit.e in the 



