166 NATUEAL AND AETIFICIAL IKCEEASB. 



place a new hive near the colony to be divided. Open 

 the old hive, smoke the bees slightly, take from it six 

 frames without shaking the bees from them, and place 

 them in the new hive. Leaye the two center combs in 

 the old hive, as well as the old queen. Fill the empty 

 space with frames of empty worker combs, or foundation. 

 Eemove the new hive to another part of the apiary, where 

 a hive has been arranged as hitherto explained, with one 

 or two combs, a few bees, and a laying queen. Cage the 

 queen, smoke these bees thoroughly, and place the six 

 combs taken from the old hive in this one. Put the 

 caged queen between two combs in such a position that 

 she will have access to sealed honey, smoke all well, and 

 close the hive. Twenty-four hours after, open it, using 

 smoke, and liberate the queen. 



Mr. H. Alley, of Wenham, Mass., one of the most 

 successful queen breeders in the country recommends 

 smoking with tobacco, when uniting bees, and introduc- 

 ing queens. While I do not approve of the use of tobacco 

 smoke as a rule, I appreciate the benefit of having the bees 

 pervaded with the same scent, and also of their being 

 more completely subdued for the time. If the nucleus 

 has not been prepared beforehand, to supply the laying 

 queens, one may be purchased, and the swarm be made 

 ready on her reception. This mode of increase indicates 

 that each strong colony may with safety furnisli one good 

 swarm, in ordinarily favorable seasons, and many times, 

 the new colony formed, as well as the old one, may each 

 give yet another. 



But in view of the lack of uniformity in the seasons, 

 some being so poor, as in 1869, that not even the very 

 best stocks are able to secure food for brood-rearing — the 

 second mode is much preferable, as it is equally practica- 

 ble whether the increa-e h to be extensive or limited, as 

 desired, or as the yield may warrant. 



It is premised that a number of hives to receive swarms 



