242 ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 



into a hive which will suit the Apiarist, it may be returned 

 to their old location, without disturbing the bees. 



If any bees are abroad when this is done, they will join 

 this new colony. Remove to a new stand in the Apiary a 

 second strong stock— which call S— and put A in its place. 



Thousands of the bees that belong to B, as they return 

 from the fields, will enter A, which thus secures enough to 

 develop the brood, and rear a new queen. In fact, this 

 colony often becomes so strong, by the help of the field 

 workers of B, as well as through its own constantly hatching 

 bees, that there is some danger of its casting off a swarm 

 when the first young queen hatches, unless again divided at 

 that time. 



474. It is quite amusing to observe the actions of the 

 bees that return to their old stand, when their homes have 

 been exchanged as above. 



If the strange hive is lilce their own in size and outward 

 appearance, they go in as though all was right, but soon 

 rush out in violent agitation, imagining that by some unac- 

 countable mistake, they have entered the wrong place. 

 Taking wihg to correct their blunder, they find, to their 

 increasing surprise, that they had directed their flight to the 

 proper spot ; again they enter, and again they tumble out, in 

 bewildered crowds, until at length, if they find a queen or 

 the means of raising one, they make up their minds that if 

 the strange hive is not home, it looks like it, stands where it 

 ought to be, and is, at all events, the only home they are 

 likely to get. No doubt they often feel that a very hard 

 bargain has been imposed upon them, but they are generally 

 wise enough to make the best of it. They will be altogether 

 too much disconcerted to quarrel with any bees that were 

 left in the hive when it was forced, and these on their part 

 give them a welcome reception, especially if they come in 

 with a heavy load. 



This method of artificial swarming will not weaken either 



