78 BEES. 



to the numlier of drones, as if they muster strongly, the 

 hive is sure to be a populous one. 



If it is spring" when you commence, purchase a recent 

 swarm just comfortably settled in a new hive, weig•hin^• 

 not less than four or five pounds, and for which you may 

 pay, perhaps, ten shillings. This will be a first swarm, 

 second swarms seldom weigh more than two pounds. If it 

 be autumn, your best way will be to obtain a swarm of 

 the same year, with all its " plant," as the commercial 

 men say, of combs and brood ; in short, an established but 

 still young colony. This should weigh from twenty-five 

 to thirty pounds, and contain, according to the apiarian's 

 not very flattering or poetical mode of calculation, about 

 half a bushel of bees. For this you will not pay too much 

 by an expenditure of twenty shillings. If you buy a colony 

 of older date, you know not how undue may be the pro- 

 portion of the ^^ plant " over those who are to work it, 

 and must not trust to weight alone in a stock-hive ; but 

 see that the combs are of a pale colour, as dark ones 

 show age, that they are worked down to the floor of the 

 hive, and that the interstices of the combs are well filled with 

 bees. These important particulars may be easily learned 

 by gently turning up the hive at night when the bees are at 

 rest. 



If the footboard of the hive is not purchased at the same 

 time, it will be found advisable to separate the hive fi'om 

 its footboard by small wedges some few hours b'efore it is 

 intended to be removed. This precaution will prevent the 

 bees from clustering on the floor, and will drive them 

 to take refuge among the combs, together with which 

 they are easily moved. The hive can then be placed upon 

 its new footboard, and removed with it. Of course the 

 entrance must be kept carefully closed during the pro- 

 cess of removal, as the bees are generally very indignant 

 at the unceremonious treatment they are experiencing, 

 and if they should escape would soon use their stings with 

 considerable effect. A piece of perforated copper, or tin, 

 fixed against the entrance will readily effect this object, and 

 at the same time afford sufficient ventilation. Bevan also 

 recommends that if the purchase is made in autumn, and 

 the hive should be full of honey, it would be safest to 



