146 THE APIARY- 



wet cloth round the place where the two hives meet. 

 In a minute or two, the bees may be heard dropping- 

 heavily into the lower empty hive, where they lie stupe- 

 fied. After a little while, the old hive may be tapped 

 upon to make the bees fall more quickly. On removing; 

 the upper hive, the bees from it will be found lying quiet 

 at the bottom of the lower one. Place a sheet on the 

 ground, and spread the bees on it ; then, with a feather, 

 sort them over, in order to pick out the queen-bee. As 

 soon as the queen is found, pour the rest of the 

 lethargic swarm from off the sheet back into the inverted 

 hive again. The stupefied bees must now be sprinkled 

 freely with a syrup made of honey and water, or sugar 

 and ale boiled together. Some' apiarians recommend a 

 ■few drops 'of peppermint to be mixed with the syrup, in 

 order to drown the peculiar odour which is special to 

 each hive of bees, — this is more necessary when two- 

 hives of bees are fumigated, and whilst under the influ- 

 ence of smoke are well mixed together. The hive con- 

 taining the bees with which it is intended to unite the 

 stupefied bees must now be placed on the top of that 

 'containing the latter, just as the hive was from which 

 they have come. A wet cloth must be fastened round 

 the two hives, so as to prevent any of the bees from 

 escaping. The hives in this position must be placed 

 where they are not likely to be knocked down or 

 meddled with. The fresh bees in the upper hive, 

 attracted by the scent of the bees besmeared with honey,. 



