SWARMING IN MOVABLE-COMB HIVES. 
63 
can be made from every five stocks as often as the loss is 
regained, and yet all the stocks, both old and new, be in condi- 
tion for winter, should swarming be continued past the usual 
I season. Whenever the weather becomes unfavorable, or pas- 
turage seems to be failing, swarming should be discontinued till 
honey is again plenty. 
Another method, is to take out half the combs with the bees 
adhering to them, and place them in the new hive ; put in the 
empty frames, and set the hives a foot or two apart, one on the 
right and the other on the left of the old stand. They must be 
watched an hour or two, to keep the bees about equal. If one 
hive seems to be getting more than its share, move that a little 
farther from, or the other nearer to, the old stand. A board set 
up between them and projecting a little in front will help divide 
the returning bees. If the hives are not the same color, the old 
one must be partially covered with a cloth, to change its appear- 
ance, else it will get most of the bees. If the queenless part be 
not determined by the motion of the bees, it may be known in 
two or three days by its having started queen-cells. 
If a fertile queen is not at hand for the queenless part, prevent 
the construction of much drone comb by giving it all but one or 
two of the combs. In taking them from the other hive, brush 
back all the bees, lest the queen be removed. If more stocks be 
divided in eight or ten days, a queen-cell for each queenless part 
may be obtained from this stock. 
The queenless part of a divided stock should have the date of 
its division marked upon the hive or otherwise noted, for if a 
queen-cell was not inserted at the time of dividing, it will have 
