THE COTTAGE AND FARm'SEE KEEPEH. 91 



months of May, June, July, and August The operation should not 

 be attempted, however, later than July, for a variety of reasons, which 

 it is unnecessary to specify. 



To turn back to the straw hives in the open air. Bearing in mind 

 that then- queens are now only barely a year old, it will be unnecessary 

 to destroy them this season. Therefore, soon after the middle of May, 

 (but see Chapter VII.,) force artificial swarms from them. These, in- 

 stead of being removed to the bee house, for I doubt whether most of 

 the bees, when forced to swarm, would not return to the old hive the 

 following day — perhaps queen and all would decamp together — these, 

 I say, had better be put into large straw hives, and' made to take the 

 place of the old ones, for permanent stocks. Nine tenths of the pop- 

 ulation may be driven out of the old hives, so as to strengthen to the 

 utmost the condition of the swarms, in order that they may well fill 

 their hives before winter. This they will probably do so effectually as 

 to weigh from 50 to- 70 lbs. of contents, glasses and all included, 

 which may be taken from them. To anticipate the time, I would ob- 

 serve here, that if the weight of either of these hives much exceed 25 

 lbs. of contents at Michaelmas, it were well to break up the top, and 

 scoop out from the upper cells of the combs, on one side, as many 

 pounds of honey as would reduce it to that weight or a little less ; the 

 reason of this spoliation I have elsewhere stated. 



The best way to treat the old hive under these circumstances, (that 

 is, after forcing the artificial swarms out of them,) is to make one good 

 stock of them. To effect this, set one of them bottom upwards in a 

 pail, which must be used the next three weeks as a stand for the hive. 

 Before turning the hive up in it, the pail should be firmly fixed to the 

 spot by running three or four stout stakes into the ground close to it 

 all round, so that no sudden gust of wind nor accidental blow may 

 knock it over. Having adjusted one of the hives, the largest and fresh- 

 est, in it, as explained just now, let the other be brought and fitted 

 nicely over the other, so that the two hives shall form but one family. 

 They must be well fitted together, first by thrusting long and sharp 

 skewers of wood through the straw of one into the straw of the other, 

 and plastering up the spaces between the hives through which the 

 bees might creep in and out, taking care to leave only one hole for 

 the use of the united families. This done, a neat hackle may be placed 

 over the crown of the topmost hive. By the end of three weeks, 



