SWARMING. 27 



Two swarms sometimes depart at the same time, and 

 join together ; in such a case, we recommend that they 

 be treated as one, by putting them into a hive as before 

 described, taking- care to give abundant room and not 

 to delay affording access to the super hive or glasses. 

 They will settle their own notions of sovereignty by one 

 queen destroying the other. There are means of sepa- 

 rating two swarms, if done at the time ; but the opera- 

 tion is a formidable one, and does not always repay 

 even those most accustomed to such manipulation. 



With regard to preparations for taking a swarm, our 

 advice to the bee-keeper must be the reverse of Mrs. 

 Glass's notable injunction as to the cooking of a hare. 

 Some time before you expect to take a swarm, be sure 

 to have a suitable hive in which to take it, and also every 

 other requisite properly ready. Here we will explain 

 what was said in the introduction as to the safety of 

 moving and handling bees. A bee-veil or dress will 

 preserve the most sensitive from the possibility of being 

 stung. This article, which may be bought with the 

 hives, is made of net close enough to exclude bees, but 

 open enough for the operator's vision. It is made to go 

 over the hat of a lady or cap of a gentleman ; it closes 

 round the waist, and has sleeves fastening at the 

 wrist. A pair of photographer's india-rubber gloves 

 completes the full dress of the apiarian, who is then in- 

 vulnerable, even to enraged bees. But bees when 

 swarming are in an eminently peaceful frame of mind ; 



