274 ^^^^ Honey Bee. [June, 



witla great velocity seek a new home in some hollow tree top, not as 

 some suppose, who seem actuated more by the love of the marvel- 

 ous, than a statement of the truth, that they are endowed with a 

 prescience, which induces them, before their departure, to seek out 

 and prepare a place for their reception. 



Bees swarm only in the best weather, and in the finest part of the 

 day. And it is important to success, that the season for swarming 

 should be fair, as we doubt not the Apiarian loses many a fine swarm 

 by there not being fine weather when they are prepared to emerge. 

 The young queen is hatched, and is often undoubtedly killed, by the 

 time of emerging being protracted too long. 



In hiving a swarm of bees, it is well to prepare first your hive, by 

 rubbing it with some sweet kind of leaves, say apple-tree, hickory, 

 or bee-balm, wet with salt water ; this renders the hive sweet and 

 pleasant. This being done, if they have alighted upon a branch 

 after every preparation for the new colony has been made, either 

 gently remove the branch, and then by a sudden jar shake them 

 into the hive, putting the hive as speedily as possible in a proper 

 position, and placing it favorable for the scattering bees to alight, or 

 shake them directly from the branch, and then by repeated agitations 

 keep them from re-alighting upon it. It is well to have a little 

 water on hand, which may be thrown up into the air which will 

 cause them to settle much more speedily. If they alight upon the 

 ground, or upon a wall, or in the fork of a large tree, the efi"ort 

 must be, carefully to secure the queen in the hive, which is gener- 

 ally in the densest portions, with a very few others, which when 

 done, all will soon, by a little agitation, repair to the hive. Many 

 regard this operation as the most difficult in the management of 

 bees, hence, many non-swarming swindles have been invented, but 

 such think of nothing but sting and murder — and to some, they are 

 really terrible, and persons of this description, should never attempt 

 keeping bees. Often this diffiiculty is merely imaginary, and will 

 vanish with a little experience, and the hiving of a swarm of bees 

 will be attended with exquisite pleasure. 



Bees will rarely sting when swarming, or on being hived, if 

 carefully managed. It greatly excites their anger to meet the odor 

 of a crushed bee. Care must be taken not to injure them in hand- 

 ling, if you would not be stung. Bees may be domesticated, and 

 when managed carefully, no fears need be entertained of their sting- 

 ing. It they emerge upon a sultry or showery day they are liable 



