242 ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 
into a hive which will suit the Apiarist, it may be returned 
to their old location, without disturbing the bees. 
If any bees are abroad when this is done, they will join 
this new colony. Remove to a new stand in the Apiary a 
second strong stock—which call B—and put A in its place. 
Thousands of the bees that belong to B, as they return 
from the fields, will enter A, which thus secures enough to 
develop the brood, and rear a new queen. In fact, this 
colony often becomes so strong, by the help of the field 
workers of B, as well as through its own constantly hatching 
bees, that there is some danger ofits casting off a swarm 
when the first young queen hatches, unless again divided at 
that time. 
474. Itis quite amusing to observe the actions of the 
bees that return to their old stand, when their homes have 
been exchanged as above. 
If the strange hive is like their own in size and outward 
appearance, they go in as though all was right, but soon 
rush out in violent agitation, imagining that by some unac- 
countable mistake, they have entered the wrong place. 
Taking wing to correct their blunder, they find, to their 
increasing surprise, that they had directed their flight to the 
proper spot ; again they enter, and again they tumble out, in 
bewildered crowds, until at length, if they find a queen or 
the means of raising one, they make up their minds that if 
the strange hive is not home, it looks like it, stands where it 
ought to be, and is, at all events, the only home they are 
likely to get. No doubt they often feel that a very hard 
bargain has been imposed upon them, but they are generally 
wise enough to make the best of it. They will be altogether 
too much disconcerted to quarrel with any bees that were 
left in the hive when it was forced, and these on their part 
give them a welcome reception, especially if they come in 
with a heavy load. 
This method of artificial swarming will not weaken either 
