124 -^ Modern Bee-Farm 



returning, while hardly one is seen to issue ; it is the " calm after 

 a storm." A closer inspection of the hive will reveal the true 

 state of affairs, and now remove all the combs to another hive 

 standing by the original with the entrance turned away from the 

 same. Secure the swarm in a skep or any other convenient 

 article, standing the same upon the ground with clear space for 

 ventilation under, and shade above. As soon as most of the 

 bees have entered or clustered about the skep, carry the same to 

 their original location and shake them into the hive, having pre- 

 viously arranged six or seven frames with full sheets of foundation, 

 or ^-inch strips of such ; and not more than two frames of brood 

 near the centre, with dummies at either side. 



The sections are to be replaced on the new swarm which will 

 soon receive so many bees in addition from the removed combs 

 that the remaining population will give up any idea of again 

 swarming, and will destroy all but one queen. When the latter is 

 mated and laying, the brood will be hatched, when the old queen 

 left with the swarm is to be destroyed, and on the following 

 evening unite the two lots with the young queen presiding. The 

 united stock should not have more than ten or eleven frames 

 in all, while the remainder of the broodless combs can be used 

 for extracting purposes. 



Where more than one young queen may be desired, break up 

 the removed combs into the necessary number of nuclei with a 

 queen cell to each on the eighth day after swarming, and re-unite 

 as soon as the queens can be appropriated. 



For obtaining one swarm from each stock, and in desiring to 



Prevent After-swarms, 



proceed in the same way, except that the removed combs and 

 bees are to be placed at a distance from the old position, and no 

 uniting takes place. This plan of obtaining one swarm and 

 throwing the whole working force with the same, while making it 

 a certainty that the other portion will cause no further trouble, 

 was well known to, and practised by, most of the old masters. In 



