216 SUMMER. 



will not demean herself to use that for a common foe ; 

 she must have a royal antagonist. When successful in 

 obtaining one, it is sufficient ; put her in a tumbler or 

 some safe place ; then put your bees in two hives, 

 place them as directed, and you v/ill soon learn where 

 your queen is needed. After all is done, the two hives 

 should not be nearer than twenty feet, at least the first 

 day ; perhaps forty would be still better. When two 

 swarms are mixed, and then separated, it is evident 

 that a portion of each swarm must be in both hives. 

 A queen in each must of course be a stranger to at 

 least a part of the bees ; these might, if their own 

 mother was too near, discover her, and leave the stran- 

 ger for an old acquaintance, and, in the act of going, 

 call or attract the whole with them, including the 

 queen. I have known a few iastances of the kind. If 

 you are disposed to separate them, but are afraid to 

 work among them to this extent in the middle of the 

 day, or if there is danger of more issuing, to mix with 

 them, and add to your perplexity, of which you al- 

 ready have enough, then you can hive them as a single 



BOMB PBEOAUTIONS IN HIVING TWO SWARMS TOGETHER. 



swarm ; but, instead of a bottom-board, invert an empty 

 hive and set the one with the swarm on this, and insert a 

 wedge between them, for ventilation. As many bees 

 are liable to drop down, in this case the lower hive 

 will catch them, and there is less danger of leaving 

 Let them remain till near sunset, when anothei 

 course may be taken to find a queen, though by that 

 time one is sometimes killed ; yet it is well to kno'vf 



