58 FORMATION OF ARTIFICIAL SWARMS. 
surplus number of bees, sufficient to constitute a family of medium 
size. The earlier in the season a swarm is formed the better, pro- 
vided the colony from which the swarm is taken affords sufficient 
bees to constitute two colonies. Artificial swarms may, however, be 
formed as late as the lst of July, from colonies that have not swarmed 
during the season, and that have a large surplus number of bees, gen- 
erally clustering outside the hive. All that is necessary to be done 
is to prepare a good clean hive, and a piece of brood-comb, from some 
hive in the apiary, containing worker eggs, or larve less than four 
days old. The piece of comb should be not less than three or four 
inckes square. Prepare some melted bees-wax, and with a sponge or 
small piece of cloth dipped in the melted wax, besmear the top of the 
hive near the centre, where the comb is to be attached, then with a 
sharp knife trim off the edge of the comb that formerly was upper- 
most, so as to have it fit the top of the hive; have a bar or some plate 
of iron with a smooth and even surface, heated, and place the edge 
of the comb against the iron, sufficient to melt it, and then quickly 
place it in the hive, with the melted edge in contact with the wax. If 
the melted wax and the comb are put in at the same time, before the 
wax hardens, so much the better, as it will unite the more firmly. It 
would be well also to insert one or two sticks through the hive, a 
short distance below the combs, to support the bees, as there would 
be less danger of the bees disuniting the comb from the hive, in clus- 
tering upon it. 
The next thing to be done is to prepare for action. If the bee- 
keeper has not a regular bee dress, let him put a gauze veil over his 
face, making it secure against the entrance of bees, around his neck 
and face, and put on a thick pair of woollen mittens or gloves, tied 
tight around the wrists. If there are a large quantity of bees clustered 
on the sides of the hive, smoking them a trifle with burning rags 
will render them less irritable. The old hive should be taken up 
gently, and the new one immediately set in its place, and the old one 
carried a short distance from its former position, and if there should 
be any bees on the outside of it, let them be brushed off gently upon 
the ground or on a cloth, and the most of them will immediately return 
to the new hive. If, however, a majority remain in the old hive, turn 
