ARTIFICIAL SWAUMING. 213 



then that of the second one must be sought for ; if neither 

 can be found, (though this, after a little experience, will very 

 seldom happen,) one of the Queens will soon kill the oth- 

 er, and reign over the united family. The next day, the 

 doubled colony will be found working with amazing vigor, 

 and it will not only fill its main hive, but will, in any ordina- 

 ry season, gather large quantities of surplus honey be- 

 sides. 



The Apiarian virho relies upon natural swarming, can 

 double his new colonies if they issue at the same time, by 

 hiving them together, or if this cannot be done, he may 

 hive them in separate hives, and then, towards evening, set 

 one hive on a sheet, and shake down the bees from the oth- 

 er, so that they can enter and join the first. It may be 

 safely done, even if several days have elapsed before the 

 second colony swarms ; although in this case, I prefer after 

 turning up their hive to sprinkle the oldest swarm with scent- 

 ed sugar-water, and then to give the new swarm the same 

 treatment. I have doubled natural swarms in this way, 

 repeatedly, and have never, when they were early, failed to 

 secure from them a large quantity of honey. In sprinkling 

 bees, let the operator remember that they are not to be 

 drenched, or almost drowned, as in this case, they will re- 

 quire a long time to enter the hive. Bees seern to recognize 

 each other by the sense of smell ; and when they are made 

 to have the same odor, they will always mingle peaceably. 

 This is the reason why I use a few drops of peppermint in 

 the sugar-water. 



If one of the queens of the forced swarms can be return- 

 ed to her own colony, it will of course, save them the time 

 which would otherwise be lost in raising another. I do not 

 know that I can better illustrate the importance of the inex- 

 perienced Apiarian following carefully my directions, than 



