TO PP.EVEXT SWAKMS CLUSTERING TOGETHEK. 29 



from the raised front as before. A hiving basket is easily made by taking 

 a small basket and covering one side of the top with cloth. To the 

 handle and the rim of the covered side of the basket a handle is fixed 

 which may be lengthened by fixing to it pieces of different lengths. This 

 is raised directly under the swarm and the bees jarred from the limb into 

 it and then poured into the hive. In this way hiving is quickly 

 accomplished ; and dispatch in hiving is important, as in very 

 large apiaries, if natural swarming is permitted, much difficulty 

 is often experienced from two or more swarms issuing about the 

 same time, when, unless prevented, they are almost certain tc 

 unite. It is some trouble to separate them and have a queen for 

 each. Therefore, when many swarms are expected, the apiary 

 should be closely watched. 



TO GUARD AGAINST SWARMS CLUSTERING TOGETHER. 



At times, the swarming fever seems to be contagious. One 

 swarm will scarcely have settled till another stock, and another, 

 will send forth their crazy legions to darken the air and make 

 "confusion worse confounded.'' The watchful bee-keeper will 

 judge from the state of the weather and the condition of his 

 stocks, when these things are likely to happen. While a swarm 

 is issuing, if other colonies " hang out " threateningly, he should 

 immediately sprinkle these outsiders with water, or blow a 

 few whiffs of smoke into each hive. This will slightly discon- 

 cert them, and probably give time for hiving the swarm already 

 tfut. If, however, one should start when the first is but partially 



