,194 - THE HONEY-BEE, 



Foragers returning from the fields will, as in the 

 preceding case, reinforce the new colony, while the 

 stock, moved to a little distance, will soon repair the 

 loss of their queen, and hatch out young bees in place 

 of those transferred to another home. 



A fourth method is to take two combs from each 

 -of several strong stocks, brushing off all bees with 

 a feather or goose-wing. Then placing the hive thus 

 filled with comb and brood, on the stand of a strong 

 stock, the returning bees will take to the home thus 

 presented to them, and will speedily raise a queen 

 for themselves from one of the many eggs con- 

 tained in the brood cells. The displaced hive must, 

 as in previous instances, be removed a few yards 

 from its old position. The reason for filling the 

 abode of the new community with frames of worker- 

 brood, is to prevent the bees from building drone- 

 comb, and raising males only, as they are apt to do 

 when they have to manufacture a queen, at least till 

 she is not only hatched but begins to lay eggs. 



There are three or four important precautions 

 which are to be remembered when making artificial 

 swarms. Firstly — swarming should not be artificially 

 attempted till drones are tolerably numerous, unless 

 a fertile queen is to be given to the new colony 

 Secondly — honey should be abundant when the. 

 swarm is made, unless a good deal is stored in the 

 combs removed. If syrup, however, be supplied, 

 all danger from scanty sources outside will be re- 

 moved. Thirdly — swarms should be taken only from 

 the strongest stocks, otherwise both old and new 

 communities will be, perhaps irretrievably, ruined. 

 Fourthly — it is an immense advantage to introduce 



