154 BOARD OP AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



The whole scene is intensely interesting, commencing with a colony 

 about ready to send out a swarm. The work of the hive has nearly 

 ceased, and the quiet of the bees indicate that a swarm is about to 

 issue; soon a few bees will be seen running in and out of the hive 

 in great excitement, then a few more will join them, flying a short 

 distance, then alighting again and running into the hive; these are 

 joined by still more, the excitement inci'eases until the whole 

 colony has entered into the spirit of migration, and not a bee in 

 the whole hive but what is running here and there as though his 

 life depended upon something, hardly knowing what. By this 

 time the bees are rushing out of the hive with a vengeance, fairly 

 pouring out, tumbling over each other in their haste, all bent on 

 the same purpose. 



Sometimes the queen may be seen coming out with the fore part 

 of the swarm, then again not until the swarm has nearly all taken 

 wing. After some minutes' flying, a few bees alight, usually on a 

 limb of some tree; this forms the nucleus for the cluster, and is 

 the signal for the whole swarm, which is very much scattered by 

 this time, to make a rush and center on this cluster; soon all is 

 quiet again — T mean to be understood, as far as the bees are con- 

 cerned. 



To hive this swarm, spread a large-sized cloth on the ground 

 directly under the cluster, placing the bottom board and hive near 

 the center, raise the front of the hive on blocks one-half inch or 

 more; everything being now ready, hold the smoke directly under 

 the cluster until their situation is somewhat uncomfortable; with 

 a dipper take a pint or more of bees and put them in front and 

 under the hive, when they will set up their call and commence 

 running in ; put several dippers of bees, at short intervals, down 

 by the hive, when the cluster may be shaken into a large tin pan 

 and turned down by the rest. With a wing brush those down 

 that are on the side of the hive until all enter, when it may be 

 carried and set on the stand prepared for it, and where it is to re- 

 main during the season. 



If the season continues favorable, nine days from the date of 

 the first a second swaicm may be looked for. They are liable to 

 issue any time between the houi's of eight o'clock a. m. and six 

 o'clock p. M. Sometimes they will all alight in one place, but quite 

 as often in two separate clusters. At times they are so fickle that 

 it is necessary to shake them into their hive; tie a piece of cheese 



