590  Bee-keeping  Industry  of  America.  | Am  NJ0°vur-18^4arm' 
back  to  the  exact  spot  of  their  old  habitations,  take  possession  of  the 
new  hive  and  continue  their  operations  under  the  new  queen  that  they 
found  established  there  to  receive  them.  The  chief  gain  made  by  this 
expedient  is  one  of  time,  a  commodity  that  is  of  special  value  during 
the  honey  season. 
The  introduction  of  a  fertile  queen  to  a  colony  is  often  in  this  way 
effected  a  fortnight  earlier  than  they  would  swarm  naturally,  and  this 
in  a  large  apiary  amounts  to  a  very  considerable  aggregate  gain.  Some- 
times the  facilities  presented  by  the  movable  comb  system  are  called 
into  requisition  for  quite  a  contrary  operation,  viz.,  the  prevention  of 
swarming  when  an  increased  amount  of  honey  may  be  desired  instead 
of  multiplied  stocks.  When  this  is  the  case  the  frames  are  lifted  out 
until  the  queen  is  found,  when  one  of  her  wings  is  clipped,  thus  pre- 
venting her  from  flying  away,  and  consequently  putting  a  stop  to  the 
swarming.  In  preparing  for  wintering  the  bees  also  it  is  a  common 
practice  to  join  two  colonies,  so  as  to  get  through  the  non-producing 
season  upon  the  most  economical  terms ;  a  full  hive,  owing  to  being 
able  to  maintain  the  proper  degree  of  warmth,  requiring  less  food. 
All  such  handlings  as  these  various  processes  involve  are  enabled  to  be 
carried  out  under  the  movable  comb  system  with  the  utmost  certainty 
and  exactness  of  operation.  Further  details  with  respect  to  varieties 
of  bees,  bee  pasturage,  and  other  matters,  will  have  to  be  dealt  with 
in  another  paper.' — Phar.  Jour,  and  Trans.,  September  27,  1884,  p. 
249. 
Bromine  as  a  Disinfectant. — (A.  Frank,  Dingl. polpt.  J".  [249], 
p.  167).  The  bromine  is  soaked  up  by  infusorial  earth,  and  is  con- 
veniently placed  in  a  Briiner's  pan  of  glass  or  porcelain,  instead  of 
lead,  having  a  very  deep  depression  in  the  cover. 
The  water  sealing  the  joint  of  the  lid  becomes  charged  with  bromine 
from  the  interior,  whence  the  bromine  gradually  diffuses  into  the  room. 
To  accelerate  the  rate  of  diffusion,  warm  water  may  be  poured  into  the 
depression  in  the  centre  of  the  cover. 
Frank  recommends  petroleum  to  reduce  the  action  of  bromine  on 
organic  substances  with  which  it  may  come  into  contact,  or  to  quickly 
remove  its  odor. — Jour.  Ohem.  Soc. 
