Others take a cape of the same size, place it over the full one that is turned upside down, bind them round with a napkin, to intercept all passage to the bees, and force them to ascend into the empty cape by tapping gently on the full one. They soon go up into the empty cape, calling on each other, and flapping their wings; and, when they are all housed, replace them again on the parent hive whence they were withdrawn; and, if the season is favourable and the honey abundant, they soon set to work again.
I prefer this last method, which is the speediest and easiest.
CHAPTER XII.
SIZE OF HIVES.
Most amateurs have all their hives of an equal size. Some will have only very large ones; others very small ones; and others there are who prefer those of middling dimensions, into which they lodge indifferently, early and late, weak and strong, and even double swarms, that have re-united on leaving the parent hive; this is not very judicious. There should be a roomy lodging for first and for strong swarms, and even more so for double ones; and there ought to be small hives to receive feeble and tardy swarms, as well as for second and third ones at least, if proprietors do not reinforce them, by uniting them, according to my plan. Middling sized hives are convenient for ordinary swarms, which are neither the first nor the last ones.
When two or even three swarms come off at the same time and mingle together, as sometimes happens in large apiaries, I take care not to separate them, but give them a hive big enough to contain them all.
One strong population supports itself better, and is incomparably more profitable, than feeble colonies, that must be often in need of assistance. But there is a measure in every thing, and there should be no excess; should four or five swarms mingle, it is proper to separate them and lodge them in two hives of suitable dimensions; when I have not done so, I have always, except once, had cause to regret it. Before swarming time, it is as well to prepare hives of various sizes, just as one would have casks ready in a cellar before the vintage, to be ready for use. Here experience is in harmony with reason.
CHAPTER XIII.
MANNER OF UNITING NEW SWARMS.
Feeble and tardy swarms can do no good excepting in very fine seasons. In bad seasons they greatly weaken the hives that produce them, without being able to shift for themselves. In ordinary years, they can only be preserved by much care, and at the expence of a great deal of honey; and most of them die, after all, without bringing any profit to their master. I have saved some that have turned out well, but only at the end of two or even three years; and I advise no one to try the experiment unless they have a great deal of honey to spare. It is better to unite them, and proceed after the following method:—