BEE-KEEPING. 157 



raised on one side to allow their passage. If seen before they 

 alight, they may often be secured by drawing a large woolen 

 stocking upon the end of a pole and holding it up among them, 

 as they are apt to consider it a favorable object on which to 

 collect. 



" When a hive yields more than two swarms, these should 

 uniformly be joined to others that are weak, as, from the late- 

 ness of the~ season and deficiency in number, they will other- 

 wise perish. This junction is easily formed, by inverting at 

 night the hive in which they are, and placing over it the one 

 you intend them to enter. They soon ascend, and apparently 

 with no opposition from the former possessors. Should the 

 weather for some days after swarming be unfavorable for the 

 bees going out, they must be fed with care until it clears up, 

 otherwise the young swarm will run great risk of dying." 



Some recommend drawing off swarms without waiting for 

 them to set forth of their own accord. We find the process 

 thus described in the Southern Homestead : 



u Those who are using a common hive when desiring to 

 draw off a swarm, should let the hive be turned bottom up- 

 ward, and the new hive set upon it ; strike lightly upon the 

 lower hive, and many of the bees will ascend into the upper 

 hive ; when a sufficient number has collected in the new hive 

 for a swarm, take it off and set it upon the bench, and return 

 the old one to its former position. In doing this, to insure 

 success, it is necessary that one of the queens should accompany 

 the new swarm, which may be known in the course of a day 

 or two, for if they have no queen, they will not stay in the 

 new hive, but will return to the old one ; but if they have a 

 queen, they soon manifest a disposition to commence work, and 

 in the course of twenty^four hours some of the bees may be 

 seen standing near the entrance of the hive, amusing themselves 

 by raising their bodies to the full length of their legs, and giv- 

 ing then* wings a rapid motion, making a steady buzzing 

 noise. This may be considered as an indication of their satis- 

 faction and the success of the operation. Some consider mid- 



