LOSS OF THE QDEBN. 291 



As I am aware that it is highly desirable in many cases 

 where space is limited, and in all cases where protection is 

 to be given, at the least expense, against the high winds and 

 cold of Winter, to keep colonies very close together, I shall 

 now describe a plan which I have devised for doing this, 

 without any risk of losing the young queens. 



If the Apiarian resorts to artificial swarming, as he will 

 move the old stock, which is to raise a young queen, to a 

 new place, he may keep his colonies quite close together, 

 without risking the loss of his queens. He must put, how- 

 ever, the old stocks when removed from the parent stand, 

 in the most favorable situation, to ensure the safe return of 

 iheir queen ; and when Winter sets in, he may again place 

 them as close together as he chooses. 



If he relies upon natural swarming, he must proceed as 

 follows : After hiving a new swarm, and before all the bees 

 have passed from the sheet into the hive, remove the parent 

 stock to a new place, where its young queen, when hatched, 

 will make no mistake, and set the newly hived swarm on 

 the old stand. 



Before removing the newly hived swarm, fold the sheet 

 over the bees which were not permitted to enter, say, two or 

 three quarts, or about one quarter of the new swarm ; care- 

 fully carry it to the front of the old stock from which they 

 issued, now removed to a new stand, and fasten it, so that they 

 may crawl into their old home. These bees, having the swarm- 

 ing propensity, will all adhere to the new location, and 

 supply the place of those who will leave it, to return to the 

 swarm, placed on the old stand ! 



If the old hive is moved without proper precautions being 

 taken, to retain a sufficient number of laborers, it will suffer 

 too severely in the loss of bees. The bee-keeper must be 

 careful not to leave the queen upon the sheet with the bees 



