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divided into two or more small clusters, and the con- 
sumption of food is less. If, during the scarcity of 
forage, weak colonies are found in the apiary, they usu- 
ally fall a prey to robber bees; such colonies must 
either be strengthened by helping them with comb, 
brood or honey, taken from strong colonies that can 
spare it, or two of them may be joined together. To 
prevent their quarreling after being united, it is neces- 
sary to impart to all an equal scent. If the bees which 
are to be united are both weak swarms, shake them to- 
gether on a sheet, and sprinkle them with sweetened 
water containing a few drops of essence of pepermiwt, 
and hive them together. Swarms coming out on the 
same day, may be successfully united without scenting. 
After-swarms are occasionally sccompanied by several 
young bees, espacially the third swarm. Such a swarm 
should be hived by itself and set next to the one with 
which it is to be united. During the night all queens 
but one will be killed. Near sundown of the next day, 
set the swarm which came out first on a sheet, and raise 
the edge of the hive so that the other swarm may en- 
ter ; then shake the bees from the other hive on the 
sheet, and while the bees are entering look for the 
queen ; if seen she must be taken away, for if allowed 
to enter, a combat will occur between the queens ; and 
if the queen of the first swarm has become fertile, she 
usually falls a victim, and the bee-keeper must run the 
risk of losing the other queen while out to meet the 
