59 
To unite two swarms on the day on which they issued, or the day 
a after, prepare a hive for their reception 
482. bs niting Two (75), Siar the hiving-board in eaten 
warms. a 
(76), remove the queen from one swarm, 
and place her (151) with a few bees in an empty match box or 
other suitable small box, to be kept thus in a warm place until 
it is ascertained that the other queen has been accepted ; dust 
the bees in each skep or swarm-box with flour; this may be 
conveniently done by placing the flour in a small flour dredger, 
or a small canister in the bottom of which a few holes have been 
bored, and lightly dusting the bees while turning the skep or 
swarm-box about so as to expose them all to the falling flour ; 
then, if there are two operators, throw the contents of each skep 
or swarm-box together on the hiving-board, and the bees will 
pass into the hive; but if the operation is performed by one 
person, it is best after flouring the bees to throw the contents 
of one skep into the other, and then to throw the whole out on 
to the hiving-board. Swarms should be placed in the position in 
which they are to remain permanently, as soon as possible after 
they issue : it isa wasteful practice to permit a swarm to expend 
its energy, building comb and storing food which is ultimately 
to be lost. 
To unite two stocks which are in bar-frame hives, the stocks 
to be united should be brought within six 
133. Uniting feet of each other (182), (188), when that 
Two Stocks which C@n conveniently be done. If both stocks 
are in Bar-frame have queens, the least valuable queen 
Hives. should be secured and boxed (182). Then 
crowd the bees in each hive upon as few 
frames as possible, taking care not to remove any containing 
brood ; this should be done on the evening before, or at least 
some hours before, uniting. Place an empty hive between the 
two stocks, uncover it, and place the dummy only in the body- 
box. Give a few puffs of smoke to each stock at the hive en- 
trance (66), or if a smoker is not available, insert two subduing 
feathers (64) ; after three minutes uncover, and place subduing 
cloths (65) over the frames in each hive. Then lift the back 
frame of one stock, dust the bees on both sides of the frame with 
flour (182), and place this frame at the back of the empty hive; 
then deal similarly with the back frame of the other hive, and so 
on with the remainder of the frames, placing them alternately 
in the centre hive. When all frames have been removed from 
the old hives, any bees remaining in them should be dusted 
with flour; then remove the body-box from the floor-board 
of one of these hives, and place its floor-board against the 
entrance of the centre hive, and brush off on to it any bees 
in the body-boxes or on remaining floor-board of the old hives. 
The hive should then be covered up as usual. If any fighting is 
observed at the entrance, a few puffs of smoke should be driven 
amongst the bees to quiet them, and a few smart blows should be 
