101 
HOW TO DIVIDE A COLONY, MAKING TWO FROM 
ONE. 
The method here described will be especially adapt- 
ed to the formation of artificial swarms at one opera- 
tion, when the bees are away from home, and when a 
number of queen-cells are to be started for other 
swarms, to be formed subsequently. Remove a strong 
colony a rod or more from the old stand; if carried 
under the shade of a tree, the operation is more con- 
veniently performed. Subdue the bees with smoke, 
and while they are filling themselves with honey, set an 
empty hive on the stand to receive the bees returning 
from the field, take another hive to the colony car- 
ried away, and blow more smoke on the bees, remove 
the frames from the new hive, open the stock of bees, 
take out one comb, and, with a feather from the wing 
of a goose or turkey, brush all the bees back into the 
old hive, and put this comb into the new hive. In this 
manner remove five combs from the old, and insert 
them in the new hive, fill up both hives with empty 
frames, close the upward passages with the honey boxes 
until the hives are filled, put on the caps, and set the 
new hive on the old stand for the flying bees to enter, 
shake the bees from the empty hive near the entrance of 
the new one, and as soon as they have entered, set the 
old hive on either side of the new one. Many of the 
bees, on coming from the field, will return to their old 
