236 BEE MANIPULATION. [Ch. v. 



finding the queen there, they will rally round her, and 

 if a time is chosen when a large number are abroad, they 

 will on their return very soon form a sufficient number to 

 constitute a swarm; comb-building will at once begin, the 

 frames will, in a week or so, be filled, and a satisfactory 

 .stock will thus be established. 



This operation we once performed — exactly as described 

 above except that there was no frame- extracting — with 

 one of our improved cottage hives. Whilst inspecting 

 our bees we caught sight of the queen on the comb in 

 one of the bell glasses. This was a chance not to be 

 missed, and we immediately resolved to form an artificial 

 swarm, for the hive was very full of bees. ' Besides, being 

 obliged to be away from the apiary most of the week, 

 we were glad of the opportunity of so easily establishing 

 a colony without the uncertainty and trouble of hiving a 

 natural swarm. In the first place we slid a tin under 

 the bell glass, and, removing the stock hive from under- 

 neath, we took it a few feet away ; then we placed an 

 empty improved cottage hive where the old stock had 

 stood, and put the glass of comb containing the queen 

 and a few bees over one of the holes in the crown of 

 this new empty hive. The bees that were left abroad 

 .belonging to the old stock returned as usual to their old 

 entrance as they supposed ; soon a sufficient number 

 formed a large cluster in the hive and began comb- 

 building, the queen remaining in the glass until the cells 

 below were sufficiently numerous for her to deposit her 



