Actually, the technique of smoking bees up into the upper story works quite nicely, if done correctly. The lid is removed, not to allow the smoke to escape, but to draw the bees toward the fresh air and light. The bottom box is smoked at the entrance several times, over several minutes. Most of the bees will move into the upper box. This technique is widely used by package bee breeders. I worked with one such outfit. The queen and brood was kept in the first story and bees were shaken out of the second several times during the season. It has to be done carefully so as not to ruin the hives. But if done right, many more bees can be gotten from a hive than it would have raised, if left alone. 

PLB

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