44 BEES FOE PLEASURE AND PROFIT. 



a hive, if the bees all begin running towards one spot, the queen 

 ■will most likely be found there ; but if they run about in wild 

 excitement all in different directions, we may know that the 

 queen is not on that frame. 



Swarming. 



If a hive which is being worked for comb honey, should 

 throw a swarm, the best way is to remove half the frames, 

 being sure to get a queen cell with them, and place them with 

 the adherent bees in a new hive at some distance from the old 

 one ; then fill up the old hive with frames fitted with half -sheets 

 of foundation, cut out all the queen cells from the combs left 

 in the hive, raise the section crates by placing an empty one 

 underneath those already on the hive, and return the swarm to 

 the old hive : the probability is that the bees will not swarm 

 again the same season, or at any rate not for a considerable 

 time ; and, moreover, the bees which we removed will build up, 

 with a little careful feeding, into a fine stock before the winter. 

 It is, however, always best to try and prevent swarming when 

 working for comb honey, as the bees do but little work for 

 several days before the swarm comes offi 



