310 THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
Artificial Swarming.—This practice, which is one 
of the chief features of modern bee-keeping, is thus 
alluded to by our author in his last edition: 
“Many apiculturists have practised the making of 
what have been termed artificial swarms of bees; 
in other words, have compelled them to leave the 
parent hive sooner than they would have done in 
their own natural way. What is more common 
than to see a large bunch of bees hanging in 
idleness, often for weeks, on the outside of a 
stock-hive, at the best part of the season? Is it 
not a great gain if we can contrive in some way to 
set this unprofitable community to work, in a new 
home? The advantages of early swarms have been 
already pointed out, and in our uncertain climate 
the risk is often great, either of losing them 
altogether, or of their coming too late for the 
principal season of blossoming. Such considerations 
have led to the compulsory system, which may, in 
one form or another, often be successfully resorted 
to by the practised hand, but otherwise it is 
scarcely to be wondered at that failure sometimes 
ensues.” 
Since the date when this was written the system 
has immensely developed itself, and the general 
adoption of frame hives has brought in many very 
material conveniences of which we previously were 
not possessed. In fact where there is not the 
advantage of movable combs there is, generally 
speaking, but one course by which to procure an 
artificial swarm—that of driving. The general 
directions for this process have been already given 
