196 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



them all off from the frames ; but leave about one quarter 

 of them on, and put them with the combs into the new hive. 

 I never knew the queen to be left on a frame after it was 

 shaken so that the larger portion of the bees would fall off. 

 As soon as the operation is completed, and the necessary 

 number of bees have been transferred with their comb to 

 the new hive, it should be managed according to the direc- 

 tions previously given, in the case of the old hive from 

 which a swarm was drummed out. 



If in the operation the Apiarian does not see the queen, 

 he must, in the course of the third day, examine the hive 

 having the larger portion of bees, and if they have com- 

 menced building royal cells among the combs given to 

 them, he may be certain that she is in the other hive. The 

 comb containing the royal cells may then be transferred to 

 that hive, and the queen searched for, and returned with the 

 combs on which she is found, to her proper place. A little 

 experience, however, will enable the operator to be sure 

 from the first, that the queen is with the right division. 



To most persons, it would seem to be of little conse- 

 quence, in which hive the queen is placed : but if the bees 

 which have only a few frames of comb, are compelled to 

 rear another, they will be sure to fill their hive with comb 

 unfit for breeding purposes, and will also be so long before 

 they can have additions to their number, as to be of but lit- 

 tle value. 



If many swarms are to be created in this manner, and 

 the operation is delayed until near swarming time, in some 

 of them, numerous royal cells will be found, so that each 

 stock which has no queen, may have one nearly mature, 

 given to it, and thus much valuable time may be saved. 



By making a few forced swarms, about a week or ten 

 days before the time in which the most will be made, the 



