256 SUMMER. 



artificial swarms, and succeed' nine times in ten with 

 the first effort, and the reader can as easily do the 

 same. It must be in the swarming season, or as soon 

 as the first regular swarm issues. You. want some 

 finished royal cells that any stock having cast a swarm 

 will furnish, (unless in rare instances, where they are 

 too far up among the combs to be seen.) 



A SUCCESSFUL METHOD. 



When you are all ready, take a stock that can spare 

 a swarm ; if bees are on the outside, raise the hive on 

 wedges, and drive them in with a little water, and dis- 

 turb them gently with a stick. Now smoke and invert 

 it, setting the empty hive over. If the two hives are 

 of one size, and have been made by a workman, there 

 will be no chance for the bees to escape, except the 

 holes in the side ; these you will stop ; (no matter 

 about a sheet tied around it.) With a light hammer 

 or stick, strike the hive a few times lightly, and then' 

 let it remain five minutes. This is very essential| be- 

 cause most of the bees, if allowed the opportunity, 

 will fill themselves with honey after such disturbance. 



All regular swarms go forth so laden. A supply 

 is necessary when bad weather follows soon after. It 

 is also used in forming wax, a very necessary article 

 in a new hive. The amount of honey carried out of 

 a stock by a good swarm, together with the weight 

 of the bees (which is not much), will vary fi:om five 

 to eight pounds. 



This, allowing time for the bees to fill their sacks, 

 and supplying the old stock with a royal cell, I be- 



