THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 83 



has already crept, and drive as before. The two families, (and, indeed, 

 amy number of bees so driven,) will unite in the most harmonious 

 manner, without the least attempt at fighting— save only that the 

 jealousy of royalty will demand a victim, and one of the rival queens 

 will be executed before morning. Of all the methods of uniting bees 

 hitherto practised, this, which is a discovery of my own,* is undoubt- 

 edly one of the simplest and most effectual It may seem hazardous ; 

 but I can testify frqp experience to its value, having tried it more 

 than a dozen times during the last two years with the same unfailing 

 success. But to proceed — the now united swarm in the temporary 

 hive had better be located for the night on a stool exactly half way 

 between the position occupied by the two families before their expa- 

 triation. If, however, the old hives did not stand side by side, let it 

 occupy the place of the strongest stock. 



Having collected as many bees together as possible out of two, three, 

 or more hives, and thus ordered them, patience must be had till the 

 following day, when, at any time between 10 am. and 3 p.m., (but the 

 later the better within this space,) the operator may revisit the scene 

 of his last night's proceedings, and conclude the business. All that 

 now remains to be done, is rudely to shake the bees out of the tempo- 

 rary hive upon the ground, in some open but shady place, in front of 

 the box provided for their reception, whose edge must be elevated 

 half an inch or so from the ground. It is evident that the box which 

 the bees are finally to occupy may be used for this purpose, but only 

 if there be no great quantity of bees, brood, or honey in it. If it 

 chanced to be heavy, there would be some danger of the combs break- 

 ing down; on this account, I advise the use of a temporary box, 

 which, when the bees have crept into it, may be placed on a board, 

 and set on the stand which the swarm occupied the night before. To- 

 wards evening, when the bees are all in, it may be carried off to the 

 place destined for it, and set over the box which the insects are finally 

 to occupy. They will all quickly descend, (the holeaintervening hav- 

 ing been previously opened,) and accustom themselves to their change 

 of home. The upper box, when empty, may be removed. 



Such is the method which I recommend to be pursued in every case 

 where it is desired to form artificial stocks. If the process above ex- 



* See Appendix, Note E. 



