212 THE BEE keeper's MANUAL. 



than a foot apart. When the time for forming the artifi- 

 cial colony has arrived, these hives should be removed 

 from their stand, and the bees driven from them, precisely 

 in the manner already described. If all the bees are at 

 home, T sometimes shut up the hives on their stand, and drum 

 long enough to cause the bees to fill themselves before 

 the hive is removed. Timid Apiarians may find some ad- 

 vantage in this course, as the bees will all be quiet after 

 they are well drummed, and the hive may then be removed 

 with greater safety. In five minutes I can in this way 

 reduce any swarm to a peaceable condition. After the 

 forced swarms are secured, the removed hives are re- 

 placed, in order to catch up all the returning bees, and 

 the forced swarms must be shut up, until towards sunset ; 

 unless it is judged best to keep the entrances temporarily 

 open, so as to secure the return of a sufficient number of 

 bees to the parent stocks. The old stocks are now moved 

 to a new place, and managed according to the previous 

 directions. If neither of the expelled s\yarms was driven 

 into the hive intended for the new colony, then the proper 

 hive must be placed, as near as possible, in the center of the 

 space previously occupied by the original colonies. One of 

 the swarms must now be shaken out upon a sheet, in front 

 of this hive which should be elevated, so as to enable the 

 bees to enter it readily. As soon as they are shaken out, 

 they should be gently sprinkled with sugar-water scented 

 with peppermint, or any other fragrant odor. Diligent 

 search must now be made for the Queen, and if found, she 

 should be carefully removed, and given to the hive to which 

 she belongs. If the queen of the first swarm has been 

 found, the second colony may be shaken out, and sprinkled 

 in the same way, and allowed to enter without any further 

 trouble. If the queen of the first colony was not found, 



