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THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEKERS’ JOURNAL. 
especially where the beekeeper through want 
of time, or knowledge, or perhaps carelessness, 
permits second and third swarms to come off 
his colonies. It is a well-known maxim among 
apiculturists that all colonies should he kept 
strong; they will be healthier, more profitable, 
and less trouble than weak ones. The bee- 
keepers’ aim, therefore, should always be to 
avoid weak, dwindling stocks that require 
constant feeding, nursing and protesting from 
robbing. 
First let us enumerate the circumstances 
under which it becomes necessary or desirable 
to unite two or more stocks of bees. 
1. In early spring, when some colonies are 
found to be weak in bees or perhaps queenless 
— for a weak colony can seldom build itself up 
in time to take full advantage of the spring 
honey flow, and a queenless colony will perish 
unless given a queen or united with a stock 
possessing one. 
2. In swarming time, when small swarms 
issue from hives, which is nearly always the 
Case where second and third swarms are j 
permitted, such small swarms should always 
be joined to others as soou after they issue as 
possible, and if on the same day it is pre- 
ferable and the process very simple and safe. 
3. After the first honey flow it is often 
found that some colonies have got below the 
standard from some reason or another, loss or 
lack of prolificness of the queen, or perhaps 
robbing or disease, when uniting is the proper 
course to pursue. 
Of course it is bad management to unite a 
stock however small to one already strong, so 
long as less strong’ stocks are in the apiary, 
still it may sometimes happen that such a 
course is necessary. A colony that will fully 
cover five Langstroth frames with bees maybe 
regarded as of medium strength, but not a 
weak colony. We regard a hive having less 
than five combs well covered with bees as a , 
weak one. Nevertheless, it is often found that 
a swarm which will cover only three or four 
combs at first, will increase rapidly, and in a 
good season fill eight or ten frames and even 
send off a swarm within a month. As a 
general rule It pays best to unite weak stocks 
durin g a honey flow at the earliest opportunity. 
We now come to the various methods 
advised fox uniting stocks or swarms one with 
another 
1 . In the case of small swarms coming off 
about the same time it frequently happens 
they unite in one swarm, in which case they 
can be hived together leaving the two queens 
to settle the question of supremacy — or the 
double swarm shaken out on a white sheet on 
which the hive, which they are to occupy, is 
propped up an inch or so, to give them free 
entrance. As soon as they, commence to run j 
in keep a sharp look out for one of the queens 
and catch her and cage her in case she may be 
required at any time. When swarms form a 
nice symmetrical cluster the queen is generally 1 
seen near the bottom or apex, and where two 
swarms cluster together, one or both queens 
are often seen running in and out among the 
bees. When it is generally an easy matter to 
secure one of them. 
If a small swarm is hived and another small 
one issues on the same day, they can be united 
by shaking the second into the hive in which 
the first was placed, without incurring any risk 
of fighting. As regards the queens, one may 
be caught or they may be left to arrange 
matters themselves. 
2. To unite two stocks not being swarms 
issuing the same day, other precautions are 
required. It is generally considered necessary 
the two hives shall be close to one another, 
if they are not, approach them little by little 
by moving either or both hives a few feet 
(not more than four or five) every evening 
until they are alongside of one another. 
Remove the least desirable queen the day 
before uniting, then, in the evening, open up 
the hives, spread out the frames in the hives 
possessing the queen and between each place 
a frame with bees from the queenless hive. 
Smoke them well and cover them up. They 
will be generally found to have peaceably 
united by next day. 
It is thought by many apiculturists desirable 
to scent the two stocks alike with some strong 
odor, and it is recommended to spray each 
stock freely with syrup and water scented 
with essence of peppermint. essenceof lavender, 
or as is preferred by many German beekeepers, 
essence of nutmeg. Smoke from mild tobacco 
is often used for the same purpose. If the 
combs and bees are scented in this way it is 
not necessary to alternate the combs, but for 
our part we have found the alternating combs 
without " scenting” to he the most certain 
way. 
Many beekeepers advise putting the frames 
of one colony on one side of the hive and the 
others on the opposite one and placing one 
or two empty combs or a wire net divided be- 
tween them for a day or two. The latter we 
have found very successful. 
Success in uniting depends in some degree 
on the season. It is much more certain in 
swarming time and when bee-food is plentiful. 
It is difficult when honey is scarce and robbers 
about ; it is undesirable therefore, if possible, 
to do uniting in such times. If, however, it 
has to be done out of season it will be well to 
adopt all the precautions enumerated. 
A queenless colony will generally readily 
unite with Olio having a queen, and it then 
remains to arrange that they be accepted. To 
secure this the bees of both should be full of 
honey, scented or alternated. The alternation 
of frames appears to so demoralise both colonies 
that neither attempt aggression. As the pro- 
cess of bringing together two stocks which 
are located some distance from one another is 
tedious and troublesome, we last season 
adopted a plan which has answered very well. 
