74 
be obviated. Artificial swarms should not be taken except 
when the stock is strong enough to cause the bees to be crowded 
on at least nine frames, and when drones are present. The 
existence of queen cells containing brood or larve is a sure sign 
that the stock is strong enough to permit of an artificial swarm 
being taken. If the swarm is to be sold it may be taken off 
under any conditions of weather which permit of the hive being 
opened without injury to the stock, but if the swarm is to be made 
in order to increase the number of stocks in the apiary, it should 
only be taken when honey is coming in freely, though an artificial 
swarm may be taken with safety in weather which is not fine 
enough to induce bees to swarm naturally. Artificial swarming 
should only be attempted by bee-keepers who are thoroughly 
conversant with the conditions which indicate that a stock is 
in a fit condition for taking an artificial swarm from it; much 
harm may be done by making artificial swarms when the con- 
ditions are not suitable for doing so; it should never be prac- 
tised for the purpose of increasing the number of stocks in an 
apiary in which foul brood (165) is believed to exist. 
Artificial swarming may be performed at any time of day subject 
to the conditions above stated (169). To 
170. Making an do so, remove the stock hive to a position 
Artificial Swarm for immediately adjacent to, but on one side 
Sale, from one Stock. of, its stand ; ascertain and note the weight 
of the swarm-box (56) in which the bees 
are to be placed for despatch, then, if the stand is of concrete, 
place the swarm-box on it in inverted position, with its front 
edge resting on a small stone, thus raising the front of the box 
so as to permit the bees to run into it; if the stand is not con- 
crete, place a board on the stand and invert the swarm-box on 
it as above described; then place a hiving-board in position 
somewhat as for hiving a swarm (76), letting it rest against the 
stand or board on which the swarm-box has been placed ; 
uncover the stock hive, lift the frames out in succession, begin- 
ning at the back, and shake or brush the bees off the frames on to 
the hiving-board from which they will move into the swarm-box : 
replace each frame in the stock hive after it has been cleared of 
bees : while this is being done, a sharp look-out must be kept for 
the queen, as she must be transferred with the bees to the hiving- 
board ; about three to three and a half pounds of bees is as much 
as can usually be taken artificially from a stock without risk of 
chilling the brood; therefore, an artificial swarm is usually 
lighter than a strong natural swarm, but as the bees of a natural 
swarm have stored their sacs with honey, each pound in weight 
of an artificial swarm will contain many more bees than would a 
similar weight of a natural swarm (11). The weight of the 
swarm may be easily ascertained by weighing the swarm-box 
when empty and again when the bees are in it; when sufficient 
bees have been thus transferred with the queen, cover the 
swarm-box, replace the stock hive, remove the two outside 
