VARIOUS METHODS. 255 



be a thousand hives in the apiary, any one will readily detect 

 a strange bee; just as each mother in a large flock of sheep 

 is able, by the same sense, in the darkest night, to distinguish 

 her own lamb from all the others. Colonies might be safely 

 mingled, by sprinkling them with sugar-water, scented with 

 peppermint or any other strong odor, which would make them 

 all smell alike. 



Bees also recognize strangers by their actions, even when 

 they have the same scent; for a frightened hee curls herself 

 up with a coived look, which unmistakably proclaims that 

 she is conscious of being an intruder. If, therefore, the bees 

 of one colony are left on their own stand, and the others are 

 suddenly introduced, in a time of scarcity, the latter, even 

 when both colonies have the same smell, are often so fright- 

 ened that they are discovered to be strangers, and are instantly 

 killed. If, however, both colonies are removed to a new stand, 

 and shaken out together on a sheet, they will peaceably mingle, 

 when scented alike. We find substantially the same thing rec- 

 ommended, in 1778, by Thomas Wildman (page 230 of the 

 3d edition of his valuable work on Bees), who says, that bees 

 will "unite while in fear and distress, without fighting, as they 

 would be apt to do, if strange bees were added to a hive in 

 possession of its honey." 



486. The forcing of a swarm ought not to be attempted 

 when the weather is cool, nor after dark. Bees are always 

 much more irascible when their hives are disturbed after it 

 is dark, and as they cannot see where to fly, they will alight 

 on the person of the bee-keeper, who is almost sure to be 

 stung. It is seldom that night work is attempted upon bees, 

 without making the operator repent his folly. 



487. We would strongly dissuade any but the most ex- 

 perienced Apiarists, from attempting, at the furthest, to do 

 more than double their colonies in one year. It would take 

 another book to furnish directions for rapid multiplication, 

 sufficiently full and explicit for the inexperienced; and even 

 then, most who should undertake it, would be sure, at fir-st. 



