32 Bee-Keeping Simplified for the 
and not the hive, that young bees are the best for queen rear- 
ing, and that it is the old bees and old queen which constitute 
a natural swarm. It is also obvious that artificial swarming 
should only be done with strong stocks, and at a time when 
natural food is being obtained in abundance. The operation 
should be carried out on a day when the bees are flying freely. 
With a skep or box hive drive out the bees until the queen 
is found, put her with about a pint of bees in a fresh hive 
placed on the old stand, run back the remainder of the driven 
bees into the original skep or box and remove it to another posi- 
tion. The flying bees will join the queen, and the young bees in 
the parent hive will rear a fresh mother. If the swarm is to be 
sold, place the queen and pint of bees in a swarm box, instead 
of a ‘hive, on the old stand. This is closed at night, and 
despatched the next day, the stock being put back in its 
original place. 
For a frame hive, prepare a hive with its full complement 
of brood frames, fitted with full sheets of wired foundation. 
Find the queen in the stock, and place the comb on which she 
is located, with the adhering bees, into the centre of the fresh 
hive, having previously removed a frame for this purpose, and 
cover with the quilts. Push the combs in the parent hive close 
together, and place the frame of foundation so that it is the 
last one at one side; cover with the quilts, and remove it 
some little distance away, putting the fresh hive in its 
place. Should bad weather follow, feed both the parent and 
swarm. 
Instead of the above method, several stocks may be used to 
make an extra one. One example of how to do this is given 
below. A larger or smaller number than those given may be 
utilised. The operator should remember that the greater 
number of stocks used the fewer brood combs must be taken 
from each. 
To make one stock from three: From each of two remove 
three combs of brood, brushing back the bees, and replacing the 
combs removed hy frames fitted with foundation placed on the 
outside of the brood nest. Put the six combs of brood in the 
centre of the fresh hive, with two frames of foundation on 
either side to make the full number of ten; cover with quilts. 
Remove the third stock, which has not been, and should not be, 
opened, to a new position; place the fresh hive where it stood. 
Thus two stocks supply the brood and one the bees. The new 
lot is allowed to rear a queen, or one may be introduced. 
