VARIOUS METHODS. 243 
of the mother-colonies. If B had been first forced, and 
then removed, it would have been seriously injured ; but as 
it loses fewer bees than if it had swarmed, and retains its 
queen, it will soon become almost as powerful as before it 
was removed. 
The Apiarist, by treating a natural swarm as he has been 
directed to treat a forced one, can secure an increase of one 
colony from two ; and of all the methods of conducting nat- 
ural swarming, in regions where rapid increase is not profi- 
table, this is the best, provided the colonies do not stand too 
close together, and the hives used in the process are some- 
what similar in shape and color. 
475. Whenever the bee-keeper learns how to handle 
the movable-frames safely he must dispense with the forcing- 
box, and make his swarms by lifting out the frames from the 
parent-stock, and shaking the bees from them, by a quick 
jerking motion, upon a sheet, directly in front of the new 
hive. 
If the hive contains much fresh honey, which is usually 
very thin, the bees must be brushed off, for shaking them 
off would also shake out a large amount of nectar (249). 
As soon as a comb is deprived of its bees, it should be 
returned to the parent-stock. If one or two combs contain- 
ing brood, eggs, and stores, are given to the forced swarm, 
it will be much encouraged, and will need no feeding (605) 
if the weather should be unfavorable. In removing the 
frames, the bee-keeper should look for the queen, and give 
the comb she is on, to the forced swarm, without shak- 
ing off the bees. If he does not see her on the combs, 
he will seldom after a little practice, fail to notice her, as 
she is shaken on the sheet, and crawls towards the new hive. 
The queen is seldom left on a frame after it has been shaken 
so that most of the bees fall off (439). 
4.76. The more combs with brood are taken from A, the 
less chance it will have to send forth a natural swarm with 
its first hatched queen. 
