UNITING SWARMS. 265 



and tin caps are so conveniently arranged as to bo 

 closed or opened in a few moments, if necessary. A 

 large number of stocks can thus be closed up in a 

 short time. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



UNITING SWARMS. 

 UNITING WEAK STOCKS IN THE TALL. 



All small or weak swarms, in autumn, that may 

 be in movable comb hives, should be united, putting 

 two or more together, sufficient at least to form a 

 strong colony, and have an abundance of honey to 

 keep them over winter. Proceed as follows, in the 

 evening is the best time : Open the hives, blow smoke 

 freely into each of them, which serves to scent all 

 alike, to prevent fighting, as well as to render them 

 docile whilst operating upon ; then proceed to put 

 the combs, bees and all, into one hive, by lifting out 

 the combs with the bees adhering to them, setting 

 aside such as contain the least honey. Should the 

 combs be new, and the frames but partially filled, it 

 is well to exchange some of them for frames con- 

 taining older and larger combs, from some strong 

 colony that can best spare them. It would be ad- 

 visable to take but one, or at most two combs from 

 any one hive. Bees should always be brushed off 

 these combs into their own hive, before removing 

 them. When the operation is completed, and the 

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