i8o THE HONEY-BEE. 



If it is intended to locate the colony in a bar- 

 frame hive, this should have been also previously 

 made ready, the frames being furnished with sheets 

 of guide-comb. The coverings being then removed 

 from the top, and the skep containing the bees held 

 above the frames, by a sharp jerk downwards, and a 

 rap or two on the top and sides of the straw hive, 

 all the bees may be made to fall on the bars of the 

 frames. They will speedily crawl down on to the 

 sheets of guide-comb, especially if a light cloth be 

 gently laid above them. 



Another method of transferring them from the 

 skep is to spread a sheet, or newspaper, in front of 

 the bar-frame hive, which should be slightly raised 

 in front from the floor-board. Then, by a smart 

 jerk, as before, the bees are thrown on to the sheet 

 or newspaper, close to the entrance, and they will 

 immediately run in and up on to the comb- 

 foundation. 



Sometimes a swarm will divide into two parts, 

 each of which will settle separately. In such a case, 

 it is tolerably certain that two queens have emerged 

 together, as very often happens with second or later 

 swarms. When such a division of forces occurs, 

 unless each portion is sufficiently large to form a 

 stock by itself, it will be advisable to hive them 

 separately, and then speedily to unite them, leaving 

 the rival sovereigns to fight for the supremacy. 



Occasionally a colony settles around the stem of a 

 tree, or some place equally inconvenient for being 

 detached. The difficulty may sometimes be met by 

 brushing as many bees as can be got at into a hive, 

 or by holding a hive above the place of settling, and 



