22 THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 



for the admission of air, by thrusting a few bits of slate beneath the 

 edge of the hive. This done, a sheet or table cloth is spread on the 

 ground hi a shady place, not less than three yards distant, (though not 

 too far,) from the old hive. Next the hive is brought, in which the 

 new swarm has been temporarily located, and its contents dashed out 

 upon the middle of the sheet by a sudden and smart blow or two on 

 its top. The bees thus exposed to view — startled, as well they may, 

 by the rude treatment they have received — appear confused and almost 

 stupified, and seem scarcely disposed to move. Now is the time to 

 search for the queen, and the more eyes the better ; scrutinise the mass 

 carefully, seek everywhere, examine with a small stick or spoon every 

 heap of bees which seems larger than another, until the person of 

 majesty is secured. If, on being knocked out of the hive, the bees take 

 wing, (which howeyer will rarely, if ever, be the case, where the oper- 

 ation is conducted in the shade,) the whole swarm will return to the 

 old stock, (their flying elsewhere is now inconceivable,) where they will 

 congregate in a large cluster near the entrance, vainly endeavoring to 

 get admission, owing to the impediment of the list bandage. Here, then, 

 the apiator comes, and searches everywhere among the living mass 

 until successful in his search. As soon as the queen is caught, let him 

 quit the scene of operation instantly, and either destroy her at once, 

 or put her under a glass or tumbler inverted, together with a few 

 workers ; she would prove an invaluable boon to the weak hive of 

 some neighboring cottager, if not too old. Returning then quickly to 

 the garden, the bee master loosens the list bandage, if somebody else 

 have not. done this already, and permits to the outlying bees free ac- 

 cess to their ancient home, into which they will speedily enter. At 

 first, they will be somewhat restless, but everything will have become 

 tranquil long before night, the bees consoling themselves the more 

 readily for the loss of their queen, with the prospect of a speedy issue 

 of royal brood. The apiator must now watch carefully for the second 

 rising of the swarm, which will generally take place between the seventh 

 and tenth day after, though sometimes sooner or later, as the case may 

 be. It will rise, however, with greater readiness and regularity than 

 the first, as well on account of the crowded state of the hive, as be- 

 cause young queens are known to be less dependent on the weather 

 than the old ones. "When risen and settled, let them be speedily hived, 

 as before, in their improved permanent building, (a large hive if it 



