SWARMING AND HIVING. 159 



If the bees settle too high to be easily reached, the basket 

 should be fastened to a pole, and raised directly under the 

 swarm ; a quick motion of the basket will cause the mass of 

 the bees to fall into it, when it may be carried to the hive, 

 and the bees poured out from it on the sheet. 



If the bees light on the trunk of a tree, or any thing from 

 which they cannot easily be gathered in a basket, place a 

 leafy bough over them, (it may be fastened with a gimlet,) 

 and if they do not mount it of their own accord, a little 

 smoke will compel them to do so. If the place is inacces- 

 sible, and this is about the worst case that occurs, they will 

 enter a basket well shaded by cotton cloth fastened around 

 it, and elevated so as to rest with its open top sideways to 

 the mass of the bees. When small trees, or limbs fastened 

 into the ground, are placed near the hives, and there are no 

 large trees near, there will seldom be found any difficulty in 

 hiving swarms. 



If two swarms light together, I advise that they should be 

 put into one hive, and abundant room at once given them, 

 for storing surplus honey. This can always be readily done 

 in my hives. Large quantities of honey are generally ob- 

 tained from such stocks, if the season is favorable, and they 

 have issued early. If it is desired to separate them, place 

 in each of the hives which is to receive them, a comb con- 

 taining brood and eggs, from which, in case of necessity, a 

 new Queen may be raised. Shake a portion of the bees in 

 front of each hive, sprinkling them thoroughly, both before 

 and after they are shaken out from the basket, so that they 

 will not take wing to unite again. If possible, secure the 

 Queens, so that one may be given to each hive. If this can- 

 not be done, the hives should be examined the next day, and 

 if the two Queens entered the same hive, one will have killed 

 the other, and the queenless hive will be found building 



