and its Economic Management. 25 



Uniting by Exchanging Combs 



a day or two beforehand, is also another novel item I 

 have frequently offered to my correspondents. This is 

 particularly useful where a nucleus having been confined 

 in transit by rail or otherwise, is to be united to a weak 

 stock on arrival. If the nucleus is placed near the -stock 

 and given a flight, it may next have one or two of its 

 combs (without bees) exchanged for the same number 

 from the stock, and the union completed during the third 

 evening thereafter. 



Sprinkling with flour when uniting has been brought 

 to notice through the columns of the Bee Journals ; 

 and^there are many who will gain confidence by using 

 it.ljthough probably in the hands of a novice, careless 

 handling[will even then bring about a disaster occasionally. 

 During the season I am daily uniting bees under all 

 conditions without any extraneous aid, and always without 

 fighting ; therefore to me the various recommendations 

 are simply amusing. 



In the case of Cyprians and Syrians some caution is 

 needed, but I have found that if both lots are first made 

 queenless these bees can be united without the least incli- 

 nation to fight while in that condition ; the queen to be 

 retained being returned in the evening. Except it be in 

 the middle of the day during a good flow of honey nothing 

 tlse will induce these bees to amalgamate with strangers. 



Agents used in Quieting Bees. 



The late Mr. F. Cheshire mentioned that methyl salicy- 

 late, using a few drops on the hands, will effectually 

 prevent bees attacking the same.* Diluted vinegar, 

 carbolic acid and Izal, will, I have found, answer in like 



* "Bees and Bee-keeping," Vol. II. 



