58 
BEE-CULTURE. 
states of excitement, except that it is necessary for her to be 
somewhere among them. If she does not come out of the 
hive, or if she drops on the ground when they swarm, the 
bees, after flying awhile, will return to the hive. If they 
haveclusteredand she is taken frofti them, they will all go back 
to their hive. If they have been hived and lose their queen 
in any within a day or two, before they have become 
well established in their new abode, they will all come out and 
go to their old home. These facts have given the impression 
that if the queen be taken from a colony the bees will all 
leave. Butin no case that I know of, except those that I have 
mentioned, will the loss of the queen have such an effect. 
Even a dead queen given to a swarm will ordinarily induce 
the bees to stay. But I do not know that her presence would 
have any other effect. 
When colonies are well established in their hives and dis- 
posed to swarm out at improper times, I have often taken 
their queen from them to induce them to stay, as there is no 
likelihopd of their swarming if they have no queen to go 
with them. When a branch containing the bees can be cut., 
it is best to set the hive on its stand and carry the swarm to 
it to be hived. I usually take a pint or two of bees on my 
hand and empty them at the entrance of the hive first. A 
ladle or pan can be used for this purpose, if one does not like 
to use his hand, but there is comparatively little danger of 
being stung at, this time, as they generally fill themselves with 
honey before leaving the parent hive ; and bees filled with 
any thing sweet rarely sting. When the bees have been 
placed at the entrance of the hive, some of them will enter, 
and being joyed at discovering what seems to them the home 
they need,thoy will get up a general hum, and those outside, 
attracted by the sound, will hasten in, buzzing as they go. 
Then shake down the rest of the swarm, and they will all go 
in ; if they are inclined to take wing, a little water sprinkled 
on them will prevent it. If they are slow to enter, gently 
shake the cloth or paper they are on, or brush them with a 
quill to hurry them. Be sure to get them all in before you 
leave them, as the queen may not be in, and, eventually, she 
may take wing and the whole swarm go to the woods. So 
soon as all are in that can be got in conveniently, set the hive 
tightly around her that you may tosa them in your hand like a ball. To get 
her from among them without injury, throw them all into water and they will 
let her go. 
