SELECTING COLONIES FOR WINTER. 273 



which hive contains her, you can preserve her by a little 

 variation of the process. 



Instead of inverting one hive, set them both on a cloth 

 right sicle up, and smoke the bees, and while they are par- 

 alyzed, search out and preserve the desired queen. Then 

 put the bees all together. Tie a thin cloth over the bottom 

 of the hive to prevent the escape of the bees. Before 

 they are fully recovered, they seem rather bewildered, and 

 some will get away. Set the hive right end up, and raise 

 it an inch ; the bees drop on the cloth, and fresh air pass- 

 ing under soon revives them. In from twelve to twenty- 

 four hours they may be let out.* 



Families united in this way will seldom quarrel, but will 

 remain together, defending themseves against intruders as 

 one swarm. I once had a stock nearly destitute of bees, 

 with abundant stores for wintering a large family. I had 

 let it down on the floor-board, and was on the lookout for 

 an attack. The other bees soon discovered their weakness 

 and commenced carrying off the honey. I had brought 

 home a swarm to reinforce them only the day before, and 

 immediately united them by means of the fumigator. The 

 next morning I let them out, allowing them to issue only 

 at the hole in the side of the hive. It was amusing to 

 witness the apparent consternation of the robbers that 

 were on hand for more jslunder ; they had been there only 

 the day before, and had been permitted to enter and de- 

 part unquestioned. But, lo ! a change had transpired. In- 

 stead of finding open doors, and a free passage, the first 

 bee that touched the hive was seized, and very rudely 

 handled, and at last, dispatched with a sting. A few oth- 

 ers receiving similar treatment, they began to exercise a 



* When a condemned colony is smothered in the old hive, so many of (he 

 bees remain sligking among the combs, that it is very unpleasant work to re- 

 move the cnmbs. It is better on the whole to drive out the bees in the beginning, 

 and the few remaining on the combs can be paralyzed, ahil vvill drop down with- 

 out difficulty. 



12* 



