Brr-Keepina. 157 
raised on one side to allow their passage. If seen before they 
alight, they may often be secured by drawing a large woolen 
stocking upon the end of a pole and holding it up among them, 
as they are apt to consider it a favorable object on which to 
collect. 
“When a hive yields more than two swarms, these should 
uniformly be joined to others that are weak, as, from the late- 
ness of the season and deficiency in number, they will other- 
wise perish. This junction is easily formed, by inverting at 
night the hive in which they are, and placing over it the one 
you intend them to enter. They soon ascend, and apparently 
with no opposition from the former possessors. Should the 
weather for some days after swarming be unfavorable for the 
bees going out, they must be fed with care until it clears up, 
otherwise the young swarm will run great risk of dying.” 
Some recommend drawing off swarms without waiting for 
them to set forth of their own accord. We find the process 
thus described in the Southefn Homestead : 
“Those who are using a common hive when desiring to 
draw off a swarm, should let the hive be turned bottom up- 
ward, and the new hive set upon it; strike lightly upon the 
lower hive, and many of fhe bees will ascend into the upper 
hive; when a sufficient number has collected in the new hive 
for a swarm, take it off and set it upon the bench, and return 
the old one to its former position. In doing this, to insure 
success, it is necessary that one of the queens should accompany 
the new swarm, which may be known in the course of a day 
or two, for if they have no queen, they will not stay in the 
new hive, but will return to the old one; but if they have a 
queen,,they soon manifest a disposition to commence work, and 
in the course of twenty-four hours some of the bees may be 
seen standing near the entrance of the hive, amusing themselves 
by raising their bodies to the full length of their legs, and giv- 
ing their wings a rapid motion, making a steady buzzing 
noise. This may be considered as an indication of their satis- 
faction and the success of the operation. Some consider mid- 
a 
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