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SEPARATING SWARMS THAT HAVE CLUSTERED TO- 
GETHER. 
A simple, yet not always reliable, method, is to hive 
them together into a long box, having a leafy bough 
fastened in a corner of each end ; by setting the box 
in an inverted position over night, in a shady place, 
they will occasionally separate, each occupying one of 
the boughs; which may then be removed and the bees 
hived. Four swarms, having united while swarming, 
were at one time hived together in a large dry goods 
box, with a leafy bough in each corner. During the 
night the swarms separated, each occupying one bough 
in the morning. 
If we could obtain the queens of those swarms unit- 
ing in the act of swarming, the bees could be easily di- 
vided. To find the queen, spread a long sheet on the 
ground, and on each end set a hive ; the sheet should 
be white, and at least seven feet long. Shake the bees 
upon the sheet, at an equal distance from each hive ; to 
prevent their flying and quick movements, sprinkle them 
slightly with cold water. The object is not to wet 
them, but to partly chill them, and consequently but 
little water should be used. 
Take a spoon and scatter the bees towards each hive, 
until they are marching in each direction ; look care- 
fully for the queens along the thin and scattered col- 
umn of bees, especially near the entrance of one of the 
