ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 165 



may be easily and quickly performed. An empty hive, 

 with its frames properly arranged, must be in readiness to 

 receive the new swarm ; and before carrying the parent- 

 stock from its stand, a little smoke should be puffed into 

 the entrance, which should then be closed with the 

 movable-blocks. Remove, now, one or two of the tins 

 that cover the holes on the spare honey-board (PI. YI3I., 

 Fig. 21), and blow smoke into the hive, until the bees 

 begin to make a loud humming, when the honey-board 

 may be loosened with a knife, and safely removed, care 

 being taken to set it on its edge, so as not to crush the 

 bees with which its under surface is usually covered. No 

 danger need be apprehended from these bees, as they are 

 completely bewildered by their sudden exposure to the 

 light, and removal from the hive. Any of the large 

 " supers "* used in my hives, or any other box of suitable 

 dimensions, may now be set over the bees, into which 

 they may be driven, in the way described on page 155. A 

 little more smoke blown into the entrance of .the hive, 

 will obviate the necessity of much rapping, and materially 

 quicken the ascent of the bees.f After they have been 

 driven from the parent-stock, the directions must be fol- 

 lowed which have already been so minutely described. 



Whenever the bee-keeper learns how to handle safely 

 the movable-frames full directions for doing which will 

 soon be given he may dispense with the forcing-box, and 

 iilake his swarms by lifting out the frames from the parent- 

 stock, and shaking the bees from them, by a quick jerking 

 motion, upon a sheet, directly in front of the new hive. 

 As soon as a comb is deprived of its bees, it should be re- 

 turned to the parent-stock. If one or two combs contain- 



* This term Is used by Apiarians to designate any upper box placed over the 

 main lower-hive. An empty hive, like that in PL L, Fig. 1., or hive like that in 

 PL III., Fig. 2. if inverted -will answer for a forcing-box. 



Time will be saved by arranging (p. 162) to force several swarms at onoe. 



