THOUSAND ANSWERS 257 



O. How will it do to sprinkle with flour when uniting bees? 



A, It is practiced a good deal in England, but for some reason 

 not much in this country. I think some have reported favorably, 

 and some not. 



Q. If, in the spring, one should have a number of weak colo- 

 nics, c(juld they be united with stronger ones and not have any 

 fighting? 



A. If you put two colonies together without any precaution, 

 each one having its own queen, there is danger of fighting. A 

 great many times I have safely united by taking one, two or three 

 frames with adhering bees froin one colony and simply placing 

 beside the brood-nest in another hive. A safe way is to place 

 one hive over the other with a comrrion sheet of newspaper be- 

 tween. The bees will gnaw a hole in the paper and gradually 

 unite peaceably. 



Q. What is the best way to unite weak colonies? Shall I kill 

 the queen, or will the bees do that? 



A. The bees will destroy one of the queens, but it may be 

 better for the beekeeper to attend to that job. There will be more 

 peaceful uniting if one colony has been queenless for two or 

 three days. 



(J. (a) How do you work llie newspaper plan for uniting two 

 swarms? 



(b) I'have never seen it tried, but I presume one of the queens 

 would have to be destroyed. What would be the proper way to 

 manage it? 



A. (a) It is a very simple matter. Take a sheet of common 

 newspaper, spread it over the to])-b[irs of the one hive. Of course 

 the bottom-board will be under the lower hive, and the cover 

 over the upper hive. There will be no sort of entrance or opening 

 into the upper hive, and no bee can get out of it until the bees 

 gnaw a hole through the [laper. Within a day or so they will 

 gnaw a hole in the paper big enough for a single bee to pass at a 

 time and the bees will pass through and mingle so slowly and 

 quietly that tliere will l)e no quarreling, gradually tearing away 

 more and more of the paper. In a few days or a week you can put 

 all the frames of br(jo<l in one story. 



(b) If there is any choice of queens, kill the poorer, otherwise 

 the bees will take care of the matter themselves. It is better if 

 the lower hive remain on its old stand. 



(), When uniting, do you le.ive any combs in the hive above 



