FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 253 



the fourth hive in a new place. The returning field-bees will 

 populate the new hi\e. Ten days or two weeks later the per- 

 formance may be repeated if the season is prosperous, and this 

 may be repeated a number of times. Of course empty combs or 

 foundation will take the place of the tAvo frames of brood drawn 

 from each hive. An advantage of this plan is that it makes a 

 strong colony at once, and there is no danger of being caught 



Fiy. 92 — Miller Cage Xo. 2. 



with a number of weaklings on a sudden cessation of the har- 

 vest. Each new colony formed will in its turn soon be able to 

 take its part in the game to start still others. 



SHAKING BEES OEF COIIDS. 



<• 



In this last plan, since the frames of brood are taken with- 

 out bees, there is a good deal to be done in the way of cleaning 

 bees off the combs. While it does not matter if a few bees 

 should be left on the combs, it does matter greatly that care be 

 taken to make sure that the queen is not among the bees taken. 

 So it is well to brush the combs tolerably clean, and then one 

 can easily see whether the queen is present. Before brushing, 



