BKE-KEEPER S MANUAL. 287 



evening, when the bees are all in, and quiet, take the 

 large family from its position, and supply its place by 

 the small one, at the same time, causing a portion of the 

 large one to fall alongside of the hive containing the 

 small swarm. The bees will readily enter, and join the 

 family within. The hive containing the large swarm 

 should be placed in the position that the other family 

 occupied. To effect such results, it may sometimes be 

 necessary to perform the operation of mixing the bees 

 on a blanket, spread on the ground. One hive may be 

 be set down, with one side raised half an inch, and the 

 bees from the other falling near it, will enter at once. 

 The time to effect this equalization should be soon after 

 sunset, and neither swarm should have issued beyond a 

 day or two previous. 



During the next two days, still larger numbers from 

 the large family, will gather to the small one ; since they 

 go out to the fields from the new situation, and return 

 to the old one. The object of forcing out a portion at 

 once, is to mix with the other family, and partially de- 

 stroy the peculiar scent by which bees from one swarm 

 recognize those of another. It is not advisable to force 

 out many, as a very large portion entering so as to 

 outnumber those already there, might cause trouble 

 with the queen, as a strange queen coming suddenly 

 into the midst of a great number of bees, not of her own 

 family, is at once seized by them, and held so close a 

 prisoner, that suffocation is liable to ensue. I do not 

 recommend this way of separation of swarms, unless it 

 be in cases where one can well spare a large portion of 



