SWAKMING. 107 



should lose no time in sprinkling those outside with water. 

 They will instantly enter the hive to avoid the apprehend- 

 ed shower. In half an hour they will be ready to start 

 again, during which time the others may be secured. I 

 have had, in one apiary, sixteen hives all ready in one day, 

 all of which actually swarmed, and several would have 

 started at once had they not been kept back, allowing only 

 one to issue at a time, as described. They had been hin- 

 dered by the clouds, which broke away about noon. 



When any of the subsequent swarms were disposed to 

 unite with those already hived, a sheet was thrown over 

 to keep them out. I had four so covered at once. An 

 assistant is very useful at such times ; one can watch symp- 

 toms, and detain the swarms, while another hives them. 

 Occasionally when waiting for a swarm to start, two may 

 do so simultaneously. 



CAN NOT BE STOPPED WHEN PART ARE ON THE WING. 



Whenever a part was already on the wing, I never suc- 

 ceeded in retarding the issue ; it is then useless to try to 

 drive or coax them back. To succeed, the means must be 

 applied before any part of the swarm leaves. 



Two or more swarms will cluster together and not 

 quarrel, if put into one hive. I have already mentioned 

 the disadvantages. Unless business is very urgent, your 

 time can not be better employed than in dividing them 



HOW TO DIVIDE. 



But it is necessary first to provide a stock of patience, as 

 it may be a long job. Spread a sheet on the ground, 

 shake the bees upon the centre of it, and set an empty 

 hive each side of the mass, with the edges raised to allow 

 the bees to enter ; if too many are disposed to enter one 

 hive, set it farther oflf. If they cluster in a situation where 

 they can not be hived in a body, they may be dipped oflf 



