SWARMING IN MOVABLE-COMB HIVES. C7 



HOW TO MAKE SWARMS BY DIVIDING.'' 



We will give the principal methods for swarming bees in tho 

 movable-comb hive, any one of which may be used according to 

 circumstances or the choice of the bee-keeper. The following 

 process is the most convenient when making swarms away from 

 home. Spread a sheet upon the ground, and after blowing a 

 little smoke into the entrance of the hive raise it carefully and 

 place it upon the sheet. If it is taken "any distance from the old 

 stand, an empty hive should be left, to hold the returning bees. 

 Also place upon the edge of the sheet your new hive, with the 

 cap and frames removed, entrance closed and movable side in. 

 Proceed to open the old hive ; meanwhile quieting the bees with 

 your smoke. Separate the young bees from the old ones by 

 shaking them from the combs upon the sheet three feet or more 

 in front of the hive. "When shaking a comb, hold it perpendic- 

 ular, to prevent breaking, and dislodge the bees with a down- 

 ward shake. If the weather be warm and the combs new and 

 tender, instead of shaking them brush off the bees with a wing 

 or quill. Keep a sharp watch for the queen by running the eye 

 over each comb, both before and after shaking it. 



Do not spend much time, however, in looking for the queen, 

 except to be careful not to put her into the hive which is to 

 contain most of the combs. As fast as the combs are shaken, 

 set them into the new hive. If the queen be found, place the 

 comb upon which she rests and another comb containing honey 

 in one of the hives with one-fourth of the bees, and give the 

 balance of the combs and three-fourths of the bees to the other 



