UNITING SECOND OR WEAK SWARMS, 53 
the swarms issue. If two or three swarms issue on the same day, they 
may all be put together at that time. If one swarm should be hived 
before the second comes off, take the second and shake it down by 
the side of the hive containing the first, and they will immediately 
join those in the hive. Should a third comie off the same day, before 
the hive is placed on the stand, this may be hived the same as the 
second. When the second does not come off until a day or two (or 
more) after the first, the best way will be to hive it in a common 
square hive, and in the evening following, spread a cloth upon the 
ground, lay a small stick of wood upon it near the centre: bring the 
hive containing the first swarm and set it upon the cloth with one 
side upon the stick of wood, so as to afford the bees a convenient en- 
trance into it, when shaken from the other hive; then place a small 
piece of board on the cloth, eight or ten inches from the hive, then 
bring the hive containing the second swarm, and give it a good smart 
jar upon the board, which will usually dislodge nearly every bee at the 
first effort. If however, a few bees should still cling to the hive, they may 
be brushed out with a wing, or even witha twig containing leaves, or the 
hive may be placed on its side with the bottom near the other hive, when 
the bees will soon leave it and unite with the others. If it should be 
desirable to add a third swarm, they may be hived in the same 
manner. After the bees have all entered the hive, it should be placed 
in its former position before the bees commence flying the next 
morning. Smoking the bees a trifle with burning linen or cotton 
rags, at the time of hiving, I think, is advantageous, as it prevents 
them from distinguishing the bees of the new swarm from those of 
their own, and they unite readily without quarrelling, One of the 
queens will of course be destroyed, though in some instances not 
until several days or weeks afterwards, 
