ARTIFICIAL SWARMS. 155 



STILL ANOTHER PLAN OF DIVIDING AND MAKING 

 NEW COLONIES. 



Form a nucleus, or, in plain English, a small cluster, 

 and when their queen has become fertile increase 

 them from a very small to a very strong colony by 

 the following process, which we have found to be 

 very successful, and recommend to the favorable con- 

 sideration of all bee-keepers who wish to increase 

 their stocks by division of artificial swarms. 



Have young queens or embryo queens ready in a 

 queen nursery, as directed on another page. Select 

 a strong colony that is breeding rapidly, having 

 brood so far advanced as to be emerging daily from 

 their cells. Spread a sheet on the ground close by 

 the hive you wish to operate upon ; have new hives, 

 frames, &c. in readiness; when the hive is opened 

 .blow a little smoke among the bees, lift out one frame 

 after another, which contain the combs, shake them 

 down on the cloth by a quick, perpendicular motion, 

 or what is safer, perhaps, for a new beginner, brush 

 them off with the feather side of a goose quill or 

 other soft brush, being careful at all times to hold 

 the comb in a perpendicular position, otherwise the 

 weight of the comb may loosen the fastenings and 

 let it fall to the ground. 



When the bees have been thus dislodged from the 

 combs, select those well stored with young brood in 

 an advanced stage, which are about to emerge from 

 their cells; they can be distinguished by the brown 

 appearance of the caps or the sealing which incloses 

 them in the cells. It will be safe to remove from 



