170 SWAEMIITG. 



divide the bees and give the destitute one a queen ; or, if 

 you have caught two, one to each. It would be well first 

 to see if the queen is alive, by removing the bees from 

 about her. But should you find no cluster of the kind, 

 spread a sheet on the ground, shake the bees on one end 

 of it, and let them march towards the hive at the other 

 end. You may now see the cluster, and may not, but they 

 will spread out, and give you a good opportunity to see 

 her majesty. When you discover her, secure her by set- 

 ting a tumbler over her. If there are a few bees shut up 

 with her, there is no harm doiie. Slip a piece of window- 

 glass under, and you will have her safe, and by this time 

 you will know what is to be done next. This operation 

 could not well be performed in the middle of the day, or 

 in the sun, as so many bees would be- flying that they 

 would greatly interfere. 



Should you fail to find a queen, and be unable to make 

 a division in consequence, or resolve from want of time, 

 patience, or energy, to let them remain together, it is un- 

 necessary to put them in any larger hive than usual ; they 

 will certainly have room enough by cold weather. If 

 there are more than two together, they should be divided 

 by all means. When two large swarms are left together, 

 it is necessary to keep an inverted hive under them for 

 the first three or four days, but no longer, as they might 

 extend their combs into the lower hive. When the lower 

 hive isremoved, boxes should be immediately put on, which 

 should be changed for empty ones, as fast as they are filled. 

 Yet this extra honey is of not quite as much advantage as 

 an increase of stocks ; when the latter is an object, I would 

 recommend the following disposition of the swarms. 



can not say, as I never saw the bees voluntarily release a queen thus confined. 

 But I have seen queens, when not prevented by the bees, rush together in afatal 

 encounter, of which one was soon left n fallen victim. It is said that V. never 

 happens that bDtli are killed in these battles— perhaps not. I never saw •;/ of 

 these royal combats and, of course, am nol competent to decide. 



