40 NATURAL SWARMING. 



out the flames containing the least honey. If one of the queens 

 is known to be very old, she may be taken away. After closing 

 the hive, place it upon the stand previously occupied by the 

 stronger of the united swarms. In uniting bees, vhen the 

 weather is warm enough for them to fly, it must not be forgotten 

 that, unless carried a mile or more away, they are strongly in- 

 clined to return to their old stand. To prevent this, give abun- 

 dant ventilation, and close the entrance till near sunset. Close 

 it again early next morning, opening it half an hour before sun- 

 set to permit the bees to fly. On the- morning of the third day 

 blow a little smoke into the hive and leave the entrance open, as 

 the removed colony will not now return to its former stand. New 

 swarms, before being hived, have given up their established loca 

 tion, and two or more of them may be joined together and placed 

 upon any stand desired. 



Second swarms are often worth but little, if hived separately. 

 But, if two are united, they will seldom fail to fill their hive and 

 be in good condition for wintering. If queen cells are removed, sur- 

 plus space given, honey extracted, or empty comb given there is no 

 danger of second swarms. 



Swarms issuing the same day will unite peaceably, or a swarm 

 may be jomed to another that has been hived three or four days , 

 but, after that, a union is more difficult in the common hive. 

 When such swarms do not issue about the same time, so as to be 

 hived together, let them stand in separate hives till sunset. Then 

 place the one first hived upon a sheet, raising the edge of the 

 nive that the other swarm may enter. Bring the other hive and 

 shake the bees out upon the sheet. If the queen is seer while 



