ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 193 



Stood, and have their liberty given to them. The next 

 morning, they will work with as much vigor as though they 

 had swarmed in the natural way. 



The directions which have here been given for creating 

 forced swarms, will be found to differ in some important re- 

 spects from any which other Apiarians have previously fur- 

 nished. I have already shown that it is difficult to secure 

 the right number of bees for the parent stock, unless it is set 

 temporarily on its old stand, so as to catch up the return- 

 ing bees. The common plan has been to try to leave in it, 

 as many bees as are needed, and then to shut it up for a few 

 days, having placed it in a new spot, while the forced 

 swarm is immediately replaced so that all the stragglers 

 may be added to it. If we could always be sure of driv- 

 ing out the queen, and with her, as many bees as we 

 want and no more, this would undoubtedly be the simplest 

 plan; but for the reasons already assigned, it will be found 

 a very precarious operation. 



Some Apiarians recommend putting the forced swarm in 

 a new place in the Apiary ; but as large numbers of the 

 bees will be sure, when they go out to work, to return 

 to the familiar spot, the new colony will often be so se- 

 riously depopulated as to be of but little value. If the 

 Apiarian can remove his forced swarms, some two or three 

 miles off", he may give them their liberty at once, and in 

 the course of a few weeks, he can, without risk, bring 

 them back to his Apiary. 



If he chooses, he may allow the parent stock to remain 

 on the old stand, and confine the forced swarm, until 

 about an hour before sun set of the third day. They 

 must in the mean time be supplied with both honey and 

 water, and if they cannot be kept cool and quiet, they 

 should be removed into the cellar until they are placed 

 17 



