ARTIFICIAL SWARMS. 191 



feet queen has left it, and all is right ; but if it is mutilated 

 or open at the side, it is probable that the queen was de- 

 stroyed before maturity, in which case it will be necessary 

 to give them another cell. 



OPERATION WITH MOVEABLE COMBS— EAST. 



It is much more pleasant to operate with the movable 

 combs than with the common hive. To divide, you have 

 only to get an empty hive of the same size as the one you 

 wish to divide. Place your stands one on each side of the 

 old one, with the hives upon them. Begin two or three frames 

 from the one you design taking out first, by moving them 

 away from it a little, then take hold of each end and raise 

 it carefully, without striking the ends or other frames. 

 "When the ends of the frame rest on the rabbeting of the 

 hive, the bees seal them fast with propolis. A small chisel 

 or bit of iron will be necessary with which to pry them 

 loose. Loosen all, before lifting out any. The bees resent 

 a slight jar during this operation more than the removal 

 of the frames, and will need a little more smoke to quiet 

 them. Take out just half the combs with the bees at- 

 tached, and put them into the empty hive. If you have no 

 empty combs, fiU out each hive with empty frames. See 

 that the bees enter them equally. This may be regulated 

 in the same manner as with the box-hive. 



OXB DIVISION ■WTLL MAKE DRONE COMB. 



The division, containing the queen, will, if they are ob- 

 taining honey, commence worker-combs ; the other, will 

 commence drone combs, and at the same time will be likely 

 to make queen-cells on the old combs. The absence of a 

 queen may be ascertained by these indications. Should 

 the one with the queen contain queen-cells, started before 

 the division, there might not be any combs made, and a 

 swarm would be quite sure to issue as soon as any cells 



