THE beekeepers' DIRECTORT. 97 



and caged, or destroyed if a new one was to be introduced, 

 and the young queens left to manage the best they- could. 

 The usual result .is this : A swarm would issue when the last 

 queen left the cell. The queen was left in the trap for a while, 

 or until it was convenient to introduce another. When ready 

 a fertile queen was introduced by the cage system as given 

 in the ApicuUurist for April, 1889, page 64. The cage was 

 placed in the trap and in a few hours the queen was liberated 

 and passed out of the trap through an opening arranged for 

 the purpose. This device has been attached to the trap since 

 the illustration was made ; therefore it is not shown in the 

 cut. It is merely a small hole at the end of the division- 

 board, which is opened and closed by a small nail operated 

 at one end of the trap. The original design of this arrange- 

 ment was intended for a queen to return from the trap to the 

 hive when a swarm issued. 



Hiving swarms where the trap is not used. 



When a swarm issues and is left to settle in the natural way, 

 the bees should not be troubled until nearly all have joined 

 the cluster. Then with a good hand force-pump wet thfe bees 

 so none can take wing. When the wat6r has done dripping 

 from them, take a basket (say one that will hold half a bushel 

 and has no fixed handle), place it directly under the cluster and 

 with a sudden upward blow of the hand dislodge the bees and 

 nearly all will fall into the basket. If any fly they will follow 

 those in the basket if you do not descend too rapidly. 



Place the hive on the ground outside of the limbs of the 

 tree so that the bees that take wing can find it. As soon as 

 the bees have entered, or are clinging to the hive, remove it 

 to the stand it is to occupy. 



Dividing swarms when two or more issue and light in one cluster. 



, When two or more swarms issue and settle on the same 

 limb as they often will do in large apiaries, they should be 

 treated to a thorough drenching ©f cold water. After having 

 prepared two hives for their reception, place them on blan- 

 kets or cloths of some kind several feet apart, shake the bees 

 into a basket and then turn them upon the blankets in front 

 of the hives dividing them as nearly equal as possible. As they 



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