APPENDIX 
379 
other frames may then have nearly all the bees shaken from them on a sheet 
spread on the ground. If the operation is performed at any timo when the bees 
are not out at work, a little care will be necessary, or you will not leave enough to 
take the necessary care of the brood. On one side of the sheet, set a hive or any 
light box, and the bees will enter as readily as a regular swarm. If sure there is 
no queen with them, they may bo fastened up with thin muslin or wire-cloth tied or 
nailed over, and turn it on its side, to prevent smothering. But if the queen baa 
not been seen during any part of the operation, it will be important, previous to 
shutting them up, to let them stand a few minutes, to determine by their actions if 
she is with them. If sho is with them they will be very quiet, and it will be neces- 
sary to look her up and return her to tbo old stock, or we have gained nothing. The 
case is very much the same as if you had driven the swarm from the common box- 
hive for this purpose. A great deal of trouble is often saved by keeping a good look, 
out for the queen when lilting out the frames; the bees are spread over the whole sur - 
face of the combs, and it gives a good chance to see her. If well enough acquainted 
with her looks and movements to recognize her at a glance among thousands, it would 
be well to get another box, and put it on the sheet with one edge raised , &c. , prepara- 
tory to re-hiving. Shake out a few directly in front of this, and us soon as they set 
up the buzzing shake out more a little further off, and watch, as they spread out in 
travelling toward the hive, for the queen. After disposing of her, the bees may bo 
secured as directed, and taken to the other apiary. Now, Tor the purpose of attach- 
ing them to their new locality, it would be advisable to give them a sheet of comb 
containing brood from some other hive. Procure a queen-ccll from a hive that has 
cast a swarm near a week before, so that its occupant will be nearly mature. It is 
a good plan when a stock sends out a swarm, and it is expected that queen-cells 
will be wanted, to takeout the frames immediately , and note down all the colls 
that are finished, and those nearly so ; by this means, you will know the time that 
they will mature — reckoning seven days from being scaled over. A place the size 
and shapoof the cell may be cutout of the comb, and that inserted without bruising 
or bending. This comb is now to bo put in the hivo with empty frames, and placed 
on a stand some feet from any others. Shako the swarm in front of the hive, and 
they will readily enter and go to work, ns any regular swarm should. 
In two or three weeks, this same old stock will increase sufficiently to sparo 
another swarm. One thrifty stock that keeps its queen will, in this way, spare 
three large swarms, and still be stronger in the full than if it had cast only two in 
the natural way, and ono of them quite small I or, it will be full as strong the next 
spring as ono that has cast no swarm 1 It would appear, then, that when a stock i8 
sufficiently obstiuato to cast no swarm, wo gain three by taking the matter into our 
own lmndB 1 I would here repeat a caution given by Mr. Langstroth : “ Not to 
have a large swarm building combs a week or ten days before they have a mature, 
queen,” because they make too many drone-cells for profit. Mr. L. recommends 
suxrting what he terms a “ ‘nucleus ’ Let a few bees rear a queen from workers’ 
eggs, and, when mature and depositing eggs, add the swarm.” This is attended 
with considerable trouble more than the other way, as the bees have to bo confined 
for a time, and you are necessitated to have. them under particular care for several 
days. It is a much quicker process, and loss trouble, to give the small company of 
bees a royal coll nearly mature ; you can then put in the bees, and speedily have 
the particular care oil' your hands. One beautiful feature about it is, you can make 
your new swarms just as strong as desired. 11 you do not get quite bees enough at 
the first trial, additions can be made till right ; or, if too many, they may be taken 
out again. Bees from different hives, after being taken from their own queen and 
carried to a strange place, can be united, and they will accept with apparent thank- 
fulness almost any condition, if they have a queen, or have the means to rear ono. 
Even old stocks nmy be strengthened readily in this way. 1 had some half-dozen last 
June, reduced beyond any prospect of recovery, and two quarts of bees obtained 
from some strong stocks in another apiary were emptied out at the entrance of 
each hivo ; those entered quietly, and labored as freely uud perscvcriugly as if they 
hail always belonged there. 
When the bees are all in ono apiary, there is a plan furnished by Mr. L. of 
strengthening weak colonies, quite effectual, but not as speedily done. It consists 
of taking ono or more combs filled with brood from a strong stock, and giving them 
to the weak ono, which, as they mature, add strength. 
There are many advantages in having bees in two localities, besides those enumer- 
ated hero, and whenever there is a possibility of giving the necessary attention it 
Is to be rooommondod. In connection with this subject. I would add a caution 
strongly insisted upon by Mr. I,., and that is, “Beware of increasing your stocks 
too last.” Although the plan just given, of preventing the oi l queen from leaving 
the hivo, will produce about oue-thinl more bees in the course of a season, there is 
groat danger, if there is not a Hill yield of honey, that you will have more bees in 
the fall than your honey stores will winter. Remembor that great haste is attended 
with peril. 
