STEWARTON, OR AYRSHIRE HIVE. 113 



two body boxes, a and b ; if the two are too small, 

 then add the other box c. Allow the bees to remain there 

 tiU they have nectrly filled the body boxes with comb, 

 which (with this increased number of workers, and in 

 favourable weather) should be from five to 'ten days. 

 Two swarms are seldom procurable the same day, so as 

 then to be joined together, and even if they were, there 

 is a doubt whether greater progress may not be attained 

 by hiving a swarm a week or so earlier than the other, 

 so as to build comb and raise brood ready for the recep- 

 tion of the new comers. 



The second swarm is added best in the evening, after 

 the bees have ceased working. For this purpose spread 

 a sheet on the ground, place two sticks so as to prevent 

 the box being close to the ground, then, with a sudden 

 knock, eject the bees of the second swarm on to the 

 cloth, and place the two body boxes that contain the 

 earlier swarm over the dislodged bees; these will, 

 in the course of an hour or so, ascend and become 

 one family, and one of the queens will be speedily 

 destroyed. 



In the meantime, prepare the shallow honey-box d, by 

 fixing small pieces of worker guide-comb, of pure white 

 colour, on the centre of each side bar. If, however, a 

 box of honey with neatly made, straight, and quite 

 regular comb be desired, a piece of this guide-comb 

 ' must be fixed to the centre of each bar. If guide-comb 

 be unobtainable, strips of the impressed wax sheets 



