io8 BEE-FARMING. 



crushed, and with a sudden blow knock out all the bees in 

 the combless hive betwixt the two sticks, and as quickly 

 as possible lift the weak hive from the stand and put it on 

 the sticks over the bees. The bees scrambling over the 

 cloth will not be long in seeking shelter in the hive, where 

 they generally receive a hearty welcome. Next morning, 

 when you remove it to the stand, one of the queens will 

 be found dead on the cloth ; the strongest as a rule will be 

 the reigning queen in the double hive. The bees when 

 mixed together or united are very seldom known to fight. 

 I have not known a single instance of fighting, although I 

 have in the autumn for several years united a great number. 

 I have had seven distinct stocks thus mingled, so as to 

 form one large colony. 



If there is the slightest chance that the bees will not 

 be received kindly when united as above, adopt another 

 plan. Soon after you have driven the first stock, smoke 

 the weak stock, and drive them in the same way you pro- 

 ceeded with the condemned stock, only drive them into 

 the same hive, so that they both are alike terrified and 

 alarmed, and mingle peaceably together. Then, at once, 

 do not wait for evening, knock them out upon the cloth, 

 and place the original hive, with combs, &c., over them, 

 and they vriW. ascend, joyfully humming their delightful 

 song of peace. Thus, with very little trouble, you will 

 secure a good stock of bees. If they winter well, and 

 come out healthy in the spring, they will probably send 

 out an early and strong swarm, besides being in good con- 

 dition for securing the honey harvest, whereas the weak 

 colony would have done very little good ; nay, I have in- 

 variably found them to cost more in watching and feeding 

 than they were worth. 



