20 
the combs, a part of the new swarm should be returned 
again to the parent hive. This can be done by shaking 
a part of them down in front of the old hive when they 
will immediately enter it. In this way, second or after, 
swarms may and should be returned as a general thing. 
Again, unless the old colony is large, and there is plenty 
of honey in the fields and a fair prospect of its continu- 
ing for some days, then it may sometimes be safe to risk 
a second swarm. 
Bees frequently cluster upon the outside of the hive 
for days or even weeks, hardly doing anything. 
In this case it is better to artificially swarm them, 
or give them more air or room, or both, as bees 
will never cluster upon the outside of thehives if 
they have plenty of air and room inside. In the 
old style of hives artificial swarming cannot be resorted 
to, consequently when they cluster upon the outside of 
the hives, and refuse to swarm, a box or super should bb 
placed under the hive, and they will immediately go to 
work. This box should be made the exact size of the 
hive, about six or eight inches high, without top or bot- 
tom, and sit directly under the full hive, closing up the 
old entrance and making one in the lower box, thus forc- 
ing them down through the new entrance. In less than 
two hours, they will commence extending the combs 
down and will soon fill the box, thus leaving their idle 
habits, which their negligent owner has forced upon them. 
Some thin strips of lumber should be put across the top 
of the box, just enough to make a separation, which will 
make it much more convenient when you wish to separate 
this from the old hive, which is done by blowing a little 
smoke in at the entrance, and drive them up amongst 
the combs, then with a honey-knife the two may easily 
be divided. 
