54 THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



comb. In from three to four days remove the tapes ; this can 

 easily be done by cutting them on the tops of the frames with 

 a pair of scissors, and then drawing them out. If any of them 

 have been fastened by the bees, it cannot be done thus ; the 

 frame will have to be taken out and tapes removed. These 

 tapes, if left in the hive, will be gradually removed by the bees ; 

 but it is very injudicious to leave them in, as a number of the 

 bees will be engaged for days in gnawing them to pieces for 

 removal, and will also get entangled in the fibres. Sheets of 

 foundation must be added gradually to make up the full number 

 of combs ; but this need not be done if the transfer has been 

 made late in the season ; then well feed the stock up on six 

 frames. Never transfer a stock after the middle of August. 



94. Uuiting. — It is very frequently of great service to 

 unite two or more colonies, as, by so doing, the harvest 

 is very considerably increased, and many other advantages 

 gained. It is a well-known fact that two weak colonies will 

 never collect any surplus ; but unite them, and so form one 

 strong colony, and a good return will almost invariably be 

 obtained. In winter, if a small cluster only of bees is left in 

 a hive, they stand very little chance of living through its rigours. 

 When so small a quantity are thus situated, a large amount of 

 stores must be consumed to keep up the required heat ; but 

 unite two such lots, making one strong colony, less heat is 

 required, and, as a consequence, less food is consumed. A 

 queenless colony can be united to one having a queen, when 

 spare queens are not procurable, as in early spring. In all cases 

 of uniting, the hives must be gradually brought close together, 

 if they are in the same apiary, or less than a mile apart. 

 Driven or condemned bees can be united, in order to form strong 

 colonies, in bar-frame hives ; such are usually very successful. 

 Swarms may be united by shaking them together, if this is done 

 within twenty-four hours of swarming. In the matter of uniting, 

 it is a hard-and-fast rule that any two colonies, both being deprived 

 of their hives, combs, and brood, will unite peaceably if thrown 

 together and mixed, the two queens, unless one is removed, 

 fighting it out for supremacy. 



95. Uniting Two Colonies in Bar-frame Hives. — First 

 move the two colonies close together, by gradual stages of not 

 more than a yard per day (see par. io8). Having brought them 

 quite close together, obtain about half-a-pint of thin syrup— lib. of 

 granulated sugar to a pint of water — and mix in it eight drops 

 of essence of peppermint — not oil of peppermint ; this latter 

 caution is given, as we saw a colony ruined by using the oil 

 instead of the essence, the former being much too strong for the 

 purpose. When~this is prepared, go to the hives, and, after subju- 

 gating the bees, well sprinkle them with this scented syrup. This 



