ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 211 



I shall now show in what manner he can secure the largest 

 yield of honey, by forming only one new colony from two 

 old ones. 



Early in the season, before the bees fly out, or better still, 

 after they ceased to fly in the previous Fall, the two hives 

 from which the new colony is to be formed, should be 

 placed near each other, unless they are already not more than 

 one or two feet apart. When the time for forming the artifi- 

 cial colony has arrived, one of these hives should be removed 

 from its stand, and the bees driven from it, precisely in the 

 way already described. After the forced swarm is secured, 

 the removed hive is replaced, in order to catch up all the 

 returning bees, and then put in a new place. The other old 

 stock must now be carried to a new location, and the forced 

 or artificial swarm hived, and placed with its entrance as 

 near as possible in the center of the space previously oc- 

 cupied by the two colonies. Thousands of bees returning 

 from the fields will now peaceably enter the new hive, and 

 in this way a very powerful colony will be formed, which in 

 a short time, will not only fill its hive, but also store up much 

 surplus honey, if suitable facilities are given to it. The hive 

 which was not forced, but simply removed to a new place, 

 will not only part with all the bees which were abroad at 

 the time, but will lose the larger portion of those which 

 leave it for work, for two days after its removal. Still it will 

 not suffer near as great a loss of bees as though it had been 

 first forced and then removed, and will speedily recruit and 

 make a powerful stock. 



When I wish to secure only an increase of one new 

 colony from two old stocks, I often proceed as follows : I 

 force an old stock, and take from it all the bees, setting the 

 new colony at once on the old stand, so as to secure for it all 

 the returning bees. The old hive from which the swarm 



