NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCEEASB. 159 



When they cluster on a branch that you do not wish to 

 cut off, arrange the bottom-board as before directed, then 

 turn a box bottom up directly under the main part of the 

 cluster, and if you have an assistant, let him jar the 

 branch sufficiently to dislodge the bees ; most of them 

 will fall directly into the box. If no assistant is at hand, 

 strike the under side of the branch with the box, and 

 when the bees have fallen in, empty them on the board. 

 I have gone up a ladder twenty feet high, got the bees 

 in this way, and backed down without difficulty. 



A basket or large tin pan may be taken up the ladder 

 instead of the hive, from which the bees can be readily 

 emptied before it. But very few will fly out in coming 

 down. If you succeed in getting nearly all the bees at 

 the first effort, merely shaking the branch will be suffi- 

 cient to prevent the remainder from alighting, which will 

 turn their attention below, where those which have al- 

 ready found a hive will be doing their best to call them. 

 Swarms will sometimes alight in places where it is im- 

 possible to jar them off, as on a large limb, or trunk of 

 a tree. At such times place the hive near, as first direct- 

 ed, and dip them off with a large tin dipper.* When you 

 get the queen in, there will be no trouble with the re- 

 mainder, even if there are many left. As soon as they 

 ascertain that the queen is not among them, they will 

 manifest it by their uneasy movements. 



They will soon leave and join those in the hive, or if 

 the queen is yet on the tree, even if there be but a dozen 

 with her, those in the hive will leave and cluster again. 

 In all cases they must all be made to enter, and when all 

 are in, except a few that will be flying, carry the hive at 

 once to the stand it is to occupy, and protect them well 

 from the rays of the sun with a good roof. The reasons 

 for immediately removing the swarm to the stand, are, 



* Dippins 18 preferable to brBsUing with a w)ng or broom, as tbe Ifttter irritatef 

 them exceedingly. 



