30 NATURAL SWARMING. 



liived, let him quickly cover it with a sheet to prevent a union, and 

 give his attention to the new comers. These must now be hived j 

 and when mostly in, if no others have started, uncover the first, 

 that the stragglers flying may be divided between the two. But, 

 should the second swarm start before the first has settled, he will 

 hardly prevent their clustering together. After a swarm has 

 started it is impossible to check it, without closing the entrance, 

 which would be a dangerous and often fatal experiment. Beside, 

 the queen may have been among the first to start, and she would 

 be a serious loss. 



When two swarms unite, if the bee-keeper's time is precious 

 and his hive large enough, he may hive them together. When 

 put in the movable comb hive, give such double swarms access 

 to the surplus boxes immediately. They will usually store about 

 one-third more surplus honey than a single swarm, but they will 

 be worth no more at the end of the season, than each would have 

 been had they remained separate. Hence, if the swarms are 

 early and large, and the weather continues favorable, it is better 

 to divide the swarm at the end of a week. (See " Nucleus 

 Swarming.") However, if a movable-comb hive is not at hand, 

 it will pay to take some trouble 



TO SEPARATE SWARMS TUAT CLUSTER TOGETHER. 



In separating two swarms that have clustered together, the 

 object is to get a queen for each. To do this, spread down a 

 sheet, placing an empty hive upon each end. Shake your bees 

 upon the sheet between the hives and sprinkle them with a little 

 water, which will retard their movements and give a good chance 



