216 OPERATION FOR THE JUNCTION OF SWARMS. 



bergamot, or any other odoriferous herb. The whole of the 

 liquid was put into a tub, the upper rim of which exceeded 

 the height of the hive about two inches In the performance 

 of this operation, we originally drove the bees out of both 

 of the hives, but we subsequently improved upon this me- 

 thod, by driving only the bees of the weaker stock, and 

 having gained possession of them, then to immerse them in 

 the fluid, until they were nearly drowned. We then plunge 

 the stronger hive into the fluid, taking care that the whole 

 of the hive be immersed in it, in order that the liquid may 

 reach the very uppermost part of the combs. We allow the 

 hive to remain in that state until it may be supposed that 

 the bees are nearly drowned, when it is taken out, and the 

 bees and the liquid poured into a garden sieve. The bees 

 being in a state of complete insensibility, the task of finding 

 the queens is not one of very great difficulty, when we 

 immediately put them in a tumbler and place them before 

 a fire. The incorporated bees being all returned into the 

 hive, the entrance is closed, and the hive is placed before 

 the fire. In a short time, the resuscitation of the bees com- 

 mences, which is known by a slight humming noise, and 

 its removal to its place in the garden should take place im- 

 mediately, unless the weather prove very cold, when the 

 bees ought to receive a greater portion of artificial heat 

 before they are moved into the garden. The restoration of 

 the bees to life being fully ascertained, the larger of the two 

 queens ought to be selected, as the most likely to have been 

 the reigning monarch of the populous hive. She however 

 should not be returned to the hive, until a few bees are seen 

 at the entrance, when she should be placed amongst them, 

 and they will immediately testify their joy by the vibration 

 of their wings, and cleaning every part of her body with 

 their proboscises. In a few seconds she will enter the hive, 

 and perfect harmony will be restored. 



In an article entitled, Observations sur les Abeilles, in- 

 serted in the Bulletin de la Socie'te d' Encouragement, pour 



