ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 171 



into the old hive, closing up the vacancy caused by the 

 removal of the comb with the queen on it, and leave the 

 empty frame at the end. Then he may place the frame 

 containing- the queen, with the few bees that maybe upon 

 it, in the centre of the empty hive ; and, finally, putting- 

 all the other frames in, and replacing the lid, the bee- 

 master will place this hive in the exact position occupied 

 by the old stock. The bees that are on the wing will go 

 to the old spot, and, finding the queen there, they will 

 rally round her, and very soon form a sufficient number 

 to constitute a swarm ; comb-building will at once begin, 

 the frames will, in a week or so, be filled, and a satis- 

 factory stock will thus be established. By doing this, at 

 the right time, just before the bees are about to swarm, 

 or when there are many drones, all the trouble of 

 watching and waiting for them is saved. Mr. Woodbury 

 claims the honour of having originated this mode of 

 swarming. 



This operation we performed, exactly as described 

 above, with one of our improved cpttage-hives, one after- 

 temoon at the latter end of May, 1862. Whilst inspect- 

 ing our bees, we caught sight of the queen on the comb 

 in one of the bell-glasses. This was a chance not to be 

 missed, and we immediately resolved to form an artificial 

 swarm, for the hive was very full of bees. Besides, being 

 obliged to be away from the apiary most of the week, 

 we were glad of the opportunity of so easily establishing 

 a colony without the uncertainty and trouble of hiving a 



