NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 159 
When they cluster on a branch that you do not wish to 
cut off, arrange the bottom-board as before directed, then 
turn a box bottom up directly under the main part of the 
cluster, and if you have an assistant, let him jar the 
branch sufticiently to dislodge the bees; most of them 
will fall directly into the box. If no assistant is at hand, 
strike the under side of the branch with the box, and 
when the bees have fallen in, empty them on the board. 
I have gone up a ladder twenty feet high, got the bees 
in this way, and backed down without difficulty. 
A basket or large tin pan may be taken up the ladder 
instead of the hive, from which the bees can be readily 
emptied before it. But very few will fly out in coming 
down. If you succeed in getting nearly all the bees at 
the first effort, merely shaking the branch will be suffi- 
cient to prevent the remainder from alighting, which will 
turn their attention below, where those which have al- 
ready found a hive will be doing their best to call them. 
Swarms will sometimes alight in places where it is im- 
possivle to jar them off, as on a large limb, or trunk of 
atrec. At such times place the hive near, as first direct- 
ed, and dip them off with a large tin dipper.* When you 
get the queen in, there will be no trouble with the re- 
mainder, even if there are many left. As soon as they 
ascertain that the queen is not among them, they will 
manifest it by their uncasy movements. 
They will soon leave and join those in the hive, or if 
the queen is yet on the tree, even if there be but a dozen 
with her, those in the hive will leave and cluster again. 
Tn all cases they must all be made to enter, and when all 
are in, except a few that will be flying, carry the hive at 
once to the stand it is to occupy, and protect them well 
from the rays of the sun with a good roof. The reasons 
for immediately removing the swarm to the stand, are, 
* Dipping is praferable to brushing with a wing or broom, as the latter irritates 
them excecdin ly. 
