ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 
155 
•hould have slats fastened one-tliird of the distance from 
the top, to aid the bees in clustering. 
As soon as the Apiarian has confined the bees, he should 
place an empty hive—which I shall call the decoy-hive— 
upon their old stand, which those returning from the 
fields may enter, instead of dispersing to other hives, to 
meet, perhaps, with a most ungracious reception. As a 
general rule, however, a bee with a load of honey or 
bee-bread, after the extent of his resources is ascertained, 
is pretty sure to be welcomed by any hive to which he 
may carry his treasure ; while a poverty-stricken unfortu¬ 
nate that presumes to claim their hospitality is, usually, at 
once destroyed. The one meets with as flattering a recep¬ 
tion as a wealthy gentleman proposing to take up his 
abode in a country village, while the other is as much an 
object of dislike as a poor man, who bids fair to become a 
public charge. 
To return to our imprisoned bees: their hive should be 
beaten smartly with the palms of the hands, or two small 
rods, on the sides to which the combs are attached, so as 
to run no risk of loosening* them. These “rappings,” 
although not of a very “ spiritual ” character, produce, 
nevertheless, a decided effect upon the bees. Their first 
impulse, if no smoke were used, would be to sally out, 
and wreak their vengeance on those who thus rudely assail 
their honied dome ; but as soon as they inhale its fumes, 
and feel the terrible concussions of their once stable abode, 
a sudden fear that they are to be driven from their treas¬ 
ures, takes possession of them. Determined to prepare 
for this unceremonious writ of ejection, by carrying oft’ 
what they can, each bee begins to lay in a supply, and m 
* There is little dangor of loosening the combs of an old stock, but the greatest 
camion is necessary when the combs of a hive are new. If, in inverting such a 
hive, the brnad siden of the combs, instead of their edges^txvo inclined downwards, 
the heat, and weight of the bees, may loosen the combs, and ruin the stock. 
