This operation we performed, exactly as described above, with one of our improved cottage hives one afternoon at the latter end of May, 1862. Whilst inspecting our bees, we caught sight of the queen on the comb in one of the bell glasses. This was a chance not to be missed, and we immediately resolved to form an artificial swarm, for the hive was very full of bees. Besides, being obliged to be away from the apiary most of the week, we were glad of the opportunity of so easily establishing a colony without the uncertainty and trouble of hiving a natural swarm. In the first place we slid a tin under the bell glass, and removing the stock hive from underneath we took it a few feet away; then we placed an empty improved cottage hive where the old stock had stood, and put the glass of comb containing the queen and a few bees over one of the holes in the crown of this new empty hive. The bees that were left abroad, belonging to the old stock returned as usual to their old entrance as they supposed; soon a sufficient number formed a large cluster in the hive and began comb building, the queen remaining in the glass until the cells below were sufficiently numerous for her to deposit her eggs in them. The division answered exceedingly well, both hives prospered; the old hive either had some princesses coming forward to supply the loss of the queen, or the bees used a power that they possess of raising a queen from worker brood in the manner we have previously described.[5]
[5] See [Section 1, page 5].
The foregoing account illustrates the successful formation of an artificial swarm; but with a cottage hive it was quite a matter of accident to have been able to get possession of the queen. With a moveable frame hive she can at any suitable time be found.
Precisely the same plan is to be adopted with the old stock in the frame hive as we have described in the case of the cottage hive, that is to remove it some few paces off: when the hives are in a bee-house, a similar result may be attained by placing the new swarm for a day or two to the entrance used by the bees when with the old stock, and the old stock may be removed to an approximate entrance. Some apiarians recommend that a space be left between the two hives, by placing the hives on the right and left of the old entrance, in order that too large a proportion of bees should not enter the new hive at the old position to the impoverishment of the other. But we have found the mode adopted with the cottage hive answer so well, that we see no reason for recommending any different plan.
It is the office of the bee-master to assist, not to go in the least degree contrary to nature. We know that when a natural swarm issues forth it has its impregnated queen, and when located in a new abode commences building worker combs, and leaves the building of the few drone combs to a later period; but if a division of the hive should be made by putting half the combs in one hive and half in another, the hive containing the queenless or embryo queen will busy itself with building only drone comb, thus a number of receptacles for useless bees is provided, which tends to weakness, and eventually to loss of the hive.
In the plan we have recommended for forming two separate families, we nearly follow the natural state of things; the comb that the queen is upon is the only one that is taken from the hive, and this vacancy should be filled in by moving the frames together so as to leave the empty frame at the end. The bees, under the government of the impregnated queen, construct the combs and furnish their new abode, which, as before stated, they will do with worker cells.
By adopting the plan above described, the moveable bar and frame hive will prove far superior to any of the dividing hives, which provide for equal division of the combs.
Perhaps the greatest advantage the moveable frame hive possesses is, that a full knowledge can be attained of its exact state as regards the queen, the population and the quantity of food in stock. During weather of a genial temperature, the combs may on any fine day be inspected, and thus a knowledge being gained of the deficiency existing in a hive, the necessary means may be adopted for supplying the want. Sometimes such an examination will verify the fears of the bee-keeper, when, having observed that his bees have ceased to carry in pollen, he has thereby received warning that the queen has been lost at some juncture when no successor to the throne could be provided. Such a hive has entered on a downward course, and will dwindle away entirely unless a queen should be given to it, or else, some combs containing young brood not more than three days old. By the latter method the bee-keeper will gain an opportunity of seeing the bees set about their wonderful process of raising a queen from the brood thus provided for them.
When a bee-keeper has become skilful in his calling, he may be desirous to encourage the breeding of queens, or rather of preventing their destruction. He will seek to use the propagating instincts of the worker bees as a set off against that innate hatred of rivalry which prompts the reigning queen to kill the tender royal brood.
Hives found to be queenless may be supplied either with matured queens or with queen cells. If the latter are sufficiently numerous, their introduction may easily be effected by exchanging a comb in each hive; if they have to be cut out and placed loosely in the new hive, a triangular piece of comb should then be removed with them, to be used as a block in preventing any pressure coming on them. A space must be cut out of the middle in the centre combs of the hive into which they are to be introduced. Special care must be taken not to bruise the royal embryos, as they are particularly sensitive to pressure.