BEE-KEEPING. 445 



1336. Hives four years old and upwards should be allowed to swarm. Keep 

 the centre holes in these hives covered up. In hives less than four years old 

 it is desirable to prevent swarming. Keep such hives shaded from the 

 sun, and give the bees in them more room by putting on small hives and 

 boxes. A piece of perforated zinc laid over the hole in the centre, by allow- 

 ing a current of air to pass through the hive, greatly assists in keeping it 

 cool. The zinc must be removed and cleaned, as the bees stop up the holes 

 in it. 



1337. The most favourable period for swarming, is from the middle of May to 

 the middle of June ; the usual time being from ten till three o'clock, although it 

 is sometimes earher and later. The indications of the approaching event are 

 a general restlessness and commotion, and the expulsion of drones from tho 

 hive, accompanied by the idleness or " miking," if we may use a term some- 

 times applied to the inhabitants of the human hive of working bees in like cir- 

 cumstances. Clustering, or hanging suspended round the entrance-holes, is 

 considered an infallible symptom of the intention, althougli it is only so when 

 taken in connection with other symptoms. If — 



" the impassion'd tbronj» 

 Pace o'er the hive, and seem with plaintive song, 

 To invite their loitering queen. 

 Or hang in cluster'd columns from the door ; 

 If even the drone his wonted ease gives o'er." 



These are the precursors of a first swarm ; still more imminent is the event, if 

 the bees which return laden with pollen from the fields remain with the 

 cluster. But unless the hive contains a young princess to reign over her 

 former kingdom, the queen will not be induced to depart with them, and the 

 clustering may last till August in hot, dry seasons. In the after-swarm a sin- 

 gular piping noise, which has been very accurately described by Aristotle, 

 and which lasts several nights, precedes swarming. This piping is said to proceed 

 from the imprisoned princesses, who are on their promotion. Out of this and 

 •other well-known symptoms, the apiarian will be able to judge when the 

 swarm may be expected. The more immediate symptoms are bees sporting 

 in large numbers in the air, in front of the hive. Immediately before, a lively 

 agitation prevails, which pervades the whole family. In this agitation the 

 queen has been supposed to participate ; but this is not always the case. 

 When joining in the flight, she seems to be borne along by the torrent which 

 streams out of the hive ; and, after having diffused themselves for a short 

 time through the surrounding air, some of them settle on a bank or tree, where 

 they are joined by all the rest, and, putting themselves together, they assume 

 the form of a cone or cluster of grapes. If, after issuing from the hive, the 

 swarm either hover in the air as if uncertain what to do, or quit the hive where 

 they have been placed, or leave the branch on which they first congregate, and 

 fly off with a whizzing sound in a direct line, they are bound to a spot already 

 selected by the sages of the hive : — 



*• For when thou seest a swarmy cloud arise. 

 That sweeps aloft and darkens all the skies. 



