162 
THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 
labors of tha hive. The imprisoned bees ought to be 
supplied with water, to enable them to prepare food for 
the larva;. In the common hive this maybe injected with 
a straw through a gimlet-hole. 
Where artificial swarming is practiced on a large scale, 
I have devised a plan which I very much prefer to any pre- 
viously described. Let the Apiarian obtain a forced swarm* 
from some bee-keeper, a mile or two off, or from one of 
his own stocks, carried that distance before the bees began 
to work in the Spring. Bringing it home, according to 
the directions subsequently given for transporting bees, 
let it be confined in a cool place, so as to have plenty of 
air. Late in the afternoon, or early next morning, let him 
force four or fivef swarms, placing them, at once, on the 
stands of the parent-stocks, and these latter where it is in- 
tended they shall permanently remain. The forced swarm, 
brought from a distance, should now be shaken out on a 
sheet, a toot or more from a hive, and gently sprinkled, so 
as to prevent any bees from taking wing. With a saucer, ~ 
scoop up, without hurting any of them, as many bees as 
you can, and carry them to the mouth of one of the old 
stocks, from which you have driven a swarm. Continue 
to do this, until you have about equally apportioned the 
bees, and if any remain on the sheet, carry it to the mouth 
of the hive which has received the least.J These bees, 
having no previous home in your Apiary, will adhere to 
the different hives in which they are placed, and thus, 
* If he delays artificial swarming until natural swarms begin to issue, he may 
■se them in the 6ame way. 
t An expert will force them all in the time usually taken by a novice to force 
one. As soon as a forcing-box is placed over one hive, he will remove another 
from its 6tand, and then the rest, and in drumming them will pass from one to 
another, 60 as to lose not a moment's time in the whole operation. Ten artificial 
swarms, or even more, may be made, in this way, in less than an houi after sun» 
rise or before sunset. 
X The queen should bo looked for, and the hive noted to which she is given. If 
she has entered the empty hive, she may be easily secured. 
