Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-07-01
flor tBt fmmer.
ARTIFICIAL swARMING OF BEES.

As JuEe rs the season Tor natural
swarminc, il is also The best time for maxi
ing artificial colonies by driving out a
portion Of the bees from their hive. This
plan has many things TO recommend it,
and the bee-keeper should make up his
mind al an early day whether to adopt it
or mol. The following are some of The
advantages:
/. 1t secures a regular and rapid in
crease Of hives or stock, while the nom
swarming plan does not provide for any
increase at all.
.. 1t saves one the disappointment and
loss Of time which result occasionally
from an u~naccouutable refusal of the bees
10 swarm at the proper season.
3. 1t enables the bee-keeper to choose
his own time for swarming, instead of
waiting for weeks to accommodate the
bees, or losing them when he has gone TO
market or to church.
4. II obviates the danger that Two or
more swarms going out the same day,
will unite.
8. Ii enables those who wish 10 sell the
increase of their stocks, 10 furnish strong
Swarms al any time which may be agreed
on.
6. 1t is in fine a great saving of time,
trouble and vexation.
Precaution.-Never attempt 10 force a
swarm until the drones have made their
appearance. Usually it is the best 10 do
it only when the bees are collecting honey
freely.
Row to do a.-We prefer altogether tie
process detailed by Mr.. LaHgstroth, which
is substantially as follows: About the
middle of a day when the bees are abroad
in great numbers; gently lift the hive 10
be opened upon, carefully turn it upside
down, and put it or the gsound several
feet from the usual stand. Put il over a
box of as nearly the SIM, size as pc ssh
bic, which has Stats within for convent
ence of clustering aud holes covered with
wire-cloth for ventilation; taking care TO
cover all the cracks and Ell frances with
paper or cloth, so that not a bee can es-
cape. Next, place an empty hive on the
stand as a decoy to catch the bees return
ing from the fields. Then proceed 10 drive
the bees out of the first hive into the up
per box, by constant drumming with The
hands upon the sides to which the combs
attached. The bees finding escape i'm
possible, proceed at once TO fill themselves
with honey, and in the course of fifteen
or twenty minutes will retreat with the
queen to the upper box. When the greater
part have gone up, the box is to be quick
ly lifted and placed upon a bottom board,
50 as TO %confine The bees, and furnish them
with air. If this forced swarm is TO be
removed 10 the distance of a mile or more,
il should be treated exactly like a natural
swarm, while the first hive is set back in
its original place iasiead of the decoy
the bees from the field will be glad to re.
gain their home ; a new qneen will be
speedily provided, and the maturing brood
will make good The place OF those expel-
led.
The plan thus far described, we have
pursued with gratifying success. II, how
ever, the bee-keeper wishes 10 retain the
forced swarm, and cannot send it away
for a time, something more must be done,
Mr.. LangstrO,h confidently recommends
a process which we have not yet tried
He as a new and important
discovery, that "neariy all the bees which
have entered the decoy hive. if now pre-
scented with their own, will adhere 10 it
even when IFS location is changed"
His advice, then is, after the foraging
bees haze returned to the old hive, now
standing in its former station instead of
the decoy hive, take up the old hive and
put it in u new place, and in the old place
put The hive prepared for the forced
swarm. Shake out before it, upon a
sheet, the bees forced into the box, and
they will quickly ascend and make them
selves at home in their new quarters; and
having a fertile queen will construct
worker cells, and do in all respects as
well as a natural swarm. II, however
the new swarm should be kept in by a
storm, or by a temporary failure of the
honey-harVesi, it would be prudent to give
them a little food.
Where shall the swarm aligAt Pr
those who prefer natural swarming, we
have a single hint that may be of great
service. An eminent apiarian, last Sum-
mer, threw his black hat into a small tree
as his bees were swarming, and they at
once alighted upon it. tmay be that any
black object that looks like a cluster of
bees, ian old cap, a piece of cloth, or
whatever is conveniently will attract them
to a spot where they may be easily reach
ed. Try it.-American AgricuHurist.
POTATO YEAST.
Pare, boil and mash fine twelve pota-