than to collect those which abandon their native hives; and the hive
here recommended is more particularly adapted to that purpose. By this
mode of treatment, we not only avoid the inconveniences which attend the
procuring of swarms in the common way, but obtain the advantage of
having the hives always well stocked, which is of greater consequence
than merely to increase their number; for it has been observed, that if
a hive of four thousand bees give six pounds of honey, one of eight
thousand will give twenty-four pounds. On this principle it is proper to
unite two or more hives, when they happen to be thickly stocked. This
may be done by scattering a few handfuls of balm in those hives which
are to be united, which by giving them the same smell, they will be
unable to distinguish one another. After this preparation, the hives are
to be joined by placing them one upon the other, in the evening when
they are at rest, and taking away those boxes which are nearly empty.
All the little doors must be closed, except the lowest.----If bees are
kept in single straw hives in the usual way, the manner of hiving them
is somewhat different. They are first allowed to swarm, and having
settled, they are then taken to the hive. If they fix on the lower
branch of a tree, it may be cut off and laid on a cloth, and the hive
placed over it, so as to leave room for the bees to ascend into it. If
the queen can be found, and put into the hive, the rest will soon
follow. But if it be difficult to reach them, let them remain where they
have settled till the evening, when there will be less danger of
escaping. After this the hive is to be placed in the apiary, cemented
round the bottom, and covered from the wet at top. The usual method of
uniting swarms, is by spreading a cloth at night upon the ground close
to the hive, in which the hive with the new swarm is to be placed. By
giving a smart stroke on the top of the hive, all the bees will drop
into a cluster upon the cloth. Then take another hive from the beehouse,
and place it over the bees, when they will ascend into it, and mix with
those already there. Another way is to invert the hive in which the
united swarms are to live, and strike the bees of the other hive into it
as before. One of the queens is generally slain on this occasion,
together with a considerable number of the working bees. To prevent this
destruction, one of the queens should be sought for and taken, when the
bees are beat