MANIPULATING. 55 



plan can also be modified by well dusting each lot with ordinary 

 flour. After about three minutes have elapsed, space the 

 frames of one colony wide apart ; this had better be done with 

 the hive that the queen is to be removed from. After she has 

 been removed, take the frames from the other hive and alter- 

 nate them with the frames of the first one, being particular that 

 all combs with brood are placed close together, in the centre. 

 As all the bees smell alike, no fighting will take place. Pre- 

 suming that there are too many frames in both hives for the 

 capacity of one, keep out any not having brood in them, brush- 

 ing the bees off with a stiff feather back into the hive. 

 Those who are at all timid of bees had better put all the frames 

 in the hive, and, early the next morning, if cold, remove the out- 

 side frames ; they will have no bees upon them, the cold night 

 causing them to cluster closely over the brood in the centre of the 

 hive. Some of the frames without brood, if too many for the 

 body-box, can be rested on top of the others, but over the quilts, 

 until the next day ; all the bees will join those below if a passage- 

 way is left for them. Two colonies, one being queenless, can be 

 united in the same manner. In the hands of an adept the scented 

 syrup need not be used, as, in the event of fighting commencing, 

 or any signs of it, it can be prevented by shaking the bees 

 well up together, which a novice would hardly care about doing. 

 Even when the frames are simply alternated, fighting rarely 

 takes place, but in autumn or spring the queen is likely to be 

 "balled" — i.e., killed by suffocation — the bees forming a com- 

 pact mass around her about the size of a walnut. 



96. XTniting a Skep with a Bar-frame Hive. — 



Drive the skep, then subjugate the colony in the frame hive, 

 and remove the least valuable of the two queens. Then take 

 out the frames from the bar-frame hive, and shake off all the 

 bees on to a board placed in front and contiguous to the 

 entrance of the hive; then shake all the driven bees from the 

 skep among them — they will get thoroughly mixed, and run 

 in together at the entrance quite peaceably (see par. 86). 

 Scented syrup need not be used in doing this, as both colonies 

 have been for a short time deprived of the hive, combs, and brood. 



97. TTnitiu^ Nucleus Colonies. — At the end of the season 

 there are frequently a few nuclei without queens ; these can all 

 be united to one nucleus colony having a queen by alternating 

 the frames of each in a fresh hive, first dusting them with flour. 



98. XTniting Swarms. — Throw the two swarms together 

 upon a sheet or large board, and let them run in a hive together. 

 This must be done within twenty-four hours of swarming. Casts, 

 or second swarms, can be treated in this manner ; they will 

 then pay, if fed up well. Swarms will frequently unite of their 



