302 miner's AMERICAN 



are destroyed by cutting the comb obliquely, more than 

 would be by cutting vertically, and then horizontally, 

 with the knife with an angle, as shown in the cut. 



ARTIFICIAL SWARMS FORMED BY DIVISION. 



This method of making swarms at pleasure, consists 

 in having hives made in two parts, to divide in the cen- 

 tre, somewhat on the plan of the collateral hive at page 

 186, with this difference, that where both parts are 

 united, they form a square hive, of the usual size. The 

 two parts should be so constructed, that they may be 

 separated at any time with ease. From necessity, they 

 must be Uke the lower section of the box-hive, as repre- 

 sented at page 1 53, that is, when joined. 



After being connected, supers may surmount them as 

 on the box-hive, with a couple of holes through each 

 half. The two sides coming together should have the 

 greatest possible open space between them, and not ad- 

 mit of a union of the combs in each half. A narrow, 

 and very thin strip of board should be placed across, at 

 the top, and sunk into the hive its whole thickness ; and 

 in the middle, and at the bottom, place the same strips, 

 about two inches wide. This is to be done on one side 

 only. The other half requires nothing. The strips 

 should be very thin, not over a quarter of an inch 

 thick, at most. It will be necessary to insert guide- 

 combs, or the bees might build transversly, or narrow 

 combs across each part, and rn that case they would be 

 apt to unite theny through the interstices, or passage- 

 way between the two parts. In order to unite them 



