138 How to re-inforce Bee-hives. 
\ 
better humour ; for, it is to be remarked, that 
the fame bees will often fight'at one time, who 
will unite in the moit kindly manner at ano- 
ther; on which account the receiving hive 
fhould always be previoufly tried, with a fpe- 
cimen of their intended new affociates. 
To drive all the bees out of a hive, at any 
feafon of the year, either to re-inforce another 
hive, or to raife an artificial fwarm, the hive 
mutt be gently turned up, and the top of it 
placed in an eek, or in a hole made in the 
ground on purpofe, to prevent it from being 
overturned. An empty hive of the fame fize 
muift then be gently placed over it, mouth to 
- mouth, and atheet, or largecloth, wrappedround 
the joinings of the hives, to prevent any of the 
bees from getting out. The undermoft hive 
muft then be rapped with both hands in the 
manner a drum 3 is beat; rapping chiefly on thofe 
parts of the hive to which the edges of the ~ 
combs are fixed, and avoiding the parts oppo- 
fite to the fides of the combs, left they fhould 
be loofened, and, by falling together, cruth the 
bees between them, as well as the young in | 
the cells. Even the Queen herfelf might be 
in danger of fuffering. By not adverting to 
this, 1 have feen the loofe combs and bruifed 
bees 
