166 NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 
place a new hive near the colony to be divided. Open 
the old hive, smoke the bees slightly, take from it six 
frames without shaking the bees from them, and place 
them in the new hive. Leave the two center combs in 
the old hive, as well as the old queen. Fill the empty 
space with frames of empty worker combs, or foundation. 
Remove the new hive to another part of the apiary, where 
a hive has been arranged as hitherto explained, with one 
or two combs, a few bees, and a laying queen. Cage the 
quecn, smoke these bees thoroughly, and place the six 
combs taken from the old hive in this one. Put the 
caged queen between two combs in such a position that 
she will have access to sealed honey, smoke all well, and 
close the hive. Twenty-four hours after, open it, using 
smoke, and liberate the queen. 
Mr. H. Alley, of Wenham, Mass., one of the most 
successful queen breeders in the country recommends 
smoking with tobacco, when uniting bees, and introduc- 
ing queens. While I do not approve of the use of tobacco 
smoke as a rule, I appreciate the benefit of having the bees 
pervaded with the same scent, and also of their being 
more completely subdued for the time. If the nucleus 
has not been prepared beforehand, to supply the laying 
queens, one may be purchased, and the swarm be made 
ready on her reception. This mode of increase indicates 
that each strong colony may with safety furnish one good 
swarm, in ordinarily favorable seasons, and many times, 
the new colony formed, as well as the old one, may each 
give yet another. 
But in view of the lack of uniformity in the seasons, 
some being so poor, as in 1869, that not even the very 
best stocks are able to secure food for brood-rearing—the 
second mode is much preferable, as it is equally practica- 
ble whether the increase is to be extensive or limited, os 
desired, or as the yield may warrant. 
It is premised that a number of hives to receive swarms 
