[ 3^7 J 



fpondcnce in thofe parts, to obtain a fatlsfadlory 

 invcftigation of the above points, and will commu- 

 nicate them to me, it will be efteemed as high a fa- 

 vour, and gratefully acknowledged^ and, I hopc^ 

 be converted to the publick benefit. 



I am^ Sir« 



Your very humble fervant, 



JOHN KEYS. 

 Near Pembroke ^ Feb, 6, 1790. 



A Caution to the Owners of Bees. 



It is a prevailing and general opinion, that bees 

 never /warm without firjl fhewing fome previous 

 figns or tokens; and that they feldorti fwarm until 

 about the middle of the day. Thofe who keep 

 bees in the duplicate manner, by fetting one hive or 

 box over another, are mifled by the writers on bees 

 to believe, that by fuch kind of contrivance, they 

 arc prevented from fwarming at all. Both which 

 opinions are aflliredly ill-founded. I take upon m^ 

 to aflfert, thlt one third of the prime ox fir ft Jw arms 

 efcape unperceived; and that, generally, without the 

 leaft indication of their dcfign. 



The feafons and hours of fwarming are alio 

 much miftakcn: they fomctimes fwarm in March, 



frequently 



