58 
ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 
fill themselves and rap again. Continue rapping at short inter- 
vals for about twenty minutes. If enough bees have not 
ascended by this time, continue drumming a little longer. The 
loud buzzing is a sign of submission, and marks the upward 
movement of the bees. The drum-box may be slightly raised 
for examination, or for greater convenience may have two wire- 
cloth windows inserted in opposite sides, through which to see 
the bees. These windows should have slides to darken them. 
There should also be cross-sticks inside the box for the bees to 
cluster on. Having secured our swarm in the drum-box, it must 
be taken to the old stand and the parent stock placed at some 
distance on a new stand. "We might now proceed to hive the 
swarm were we certain that we had succeeded in forcing out the 
queen. To be sure of this, place the drum-box, containing the 
swarm, upon a clean bottom-board and examine after a few 
minutes for eggs, which the queen will be compelled to drop for 
want of cells in which to deposit them. However, should no 
eggs be seen, the presence of the queen may still be inferred, if 
the bees remain quiet and do not commence running about in 
quest of her within half an hour. Now spread a sheet, or any 
large cloth, upon the ground close to the old stand, slightly 
remove the new hive and place it on the end of the sheet. 
Remove the small slide and entrance block to give the bees the 
full width of the entrance. They may now be shaken from the 
drum-box upon the sheet, about three feet in front of the new 
hive, and a few of them directed to the entrance with a quill o> 
piece of shingle. These, by their humming, will attract the 
others, and a steady stream will commence moving toward the 
