52 UNITING SECOND OR WEAK SWARMS. 
branch, and even when a swarm has issued, and the bees have nearly 
all entered their new habitation, another swarm coming out at that 
time will often unite with them, and another a half hour after will 
follow the former, and I have frequently known three or four swarms 
to congregate in this way, producing nearly a bushel of bees, In 
large apiaries swarms are very likely to congregate, as I have stated, 
and hence it is very necessary that everything should be in readiness, 
and a swarm hived as soon as possible. If the bees are backward 
about entering their hive, sprinkle them a little with cold water, this 
will hurry them in. The bees also that are expected to issue, may 
be dampened a little, which may retard their swarming a few mo- 
ments until the others are’ secured. When a swarm has issued and 
the bees have not all entered the hive, and a second issue commences, 
the former may be covered with a sheet so as to prevent the latter 
joining them. If artificial clustering poles are used, as soon as all, 
or nearly all the bees have settled, they may be carried immediately 
into a dark room, and a hive placed over them, when they will enter 
as well as in the light. An extensive apiarian informed me that he 
adopted this plan. He had constructed a room expressly for the 
purpose, and as soon as a swarm had settled, he immediately carried 
it into the room, and placed it by a hive, and when the second had 
settled he took that there also, and that he had frequently had half 
a dozen in the room at the same time, but being in the dark they did 
not fly or mix at all, but would soon enter their hives, when they 
‘vere removed to their allotted place in the apiary. 
CHAPTER XVI. 
UNITING SECOND OR WEAK SWARMS. 
Two or more swarms may be united without difficulty; and 
it is generally better to put two, and in some instances, even 
three late weak swarms together, than in separate hives. The 
best and most convenient time to accomplish this union is at the time 
