32 Bee-Keeping Simplified for the 



and not the hive, that young bees are the best for queen rear- 

 ing, and that it is the old bees and old queen which constitute 

 a natural swarm. It is also obvious that artificial swarms should 

 only be made from strong, healthy colonies, and at a time when 

 natural food is being obtained in abundance. The operation 

 should be carried out on a day when the bees are flying freely. 



With a skep or box hive drive out the bees until the queen 

 is found, put her with about a pint of bees in a fresh hive 

 placed on the old stand, run back the remainder of the driven 

 bees into the original skep or box and remove it to another posi- 

 tion. Tiie flying bees will join the queen, and the young bees of 

 the parent colony will rear a fresh mother. If the swarm is to be 

 sold, place the queen and pint of bees in a swarm box, instead 

 of a hive, on the old stand. This is closed at night, and 

 despatched the next day, the stock being put ba<;k in its 

 original place. 



For a movable comb hive, prepare a hive with its 

 full complement of brood frames, fitted with full sheets 

 of wired foundation. Find the queen in the colony, 

 and place the comb on which she is located, with 

 the adhering bees, into the centre of the fresh hive, 

 having previously removed a frame for this purpose, and 

 cover with the quilts. Push the combs in the parent hive close 

 together, and place the frame of foundation so that it is the 

 last one at one side; cover with the quilts, and remove it 

 some little distance away, putting the fresh hive in its 

 place. Should bad weather follow, feed both the parent and 

 swarm. 



Instead of the above method, several colonies may be used to 

 make an extra one. One example of how to do this is given 

 below. A larger or smaller number than those given may be 

 utilised. The operator should remember that the greater 

 number of colonies used the fewer brood combs must be taken 

 from each. 



To make one colony from three : From each of two remove 

 three combs of brood, brushing back the bees, and replacing the 

 combs removed by frames fitted with foundation placed on the 

 outside of the brood nest. Put the six combs of brood in the 

 centre of the fresh hive, with two frames of foundation on 

 either side to make the full number of ten ; cover with quilts. 

 Remove the third stock, which has not been, and should not be, 

 opened, to a new position ; place the fresh hive where it stood. 

 Thus two colonies supply the brood and one the bees. The new 

 lot is allowed to rear a queen, or one may be introduced. 



