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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



315 



but we doubt if it will ever be safe to substi- 

 tute it for the cage-candy plan for queens re- 

 ceived through the mails. Don't forget that 

 such queens are tnuch harder to introduce 

 than those fresh froon a nucleus in the same 

 yard. This is the reason, we suspect, why 

 Mr. Buchanan was so successful. If he had 

 attempted that number of queens received 

 from the mails he would have had a much 

 greater percentage of loss. 



In the mean time we are glad to get this 

 report from Mr. Buchanan; and in order 

 that we may know how far the fasting meth- 

 od has been successful with others, we solicit 

 reports. — Ed.] 



QUEER CLUSTERING-PLACES OF SWARMS, 



BY W. A. PRYAL. 



Bees, when swarming, are apt to alight in 

 any place; hence we know of the colony of 

 l)ees that occupied the 

 lion's carcass, as related in 

 the story of Samson, as 

 well as many instances in 

 modern times where the>- 

 have preempted some 

 queer homes. It was only 

 the past spring that I reatl 

 of a swarm in one of the 

 cities of the State of Wash- 

 ington that alighted on 

 the trolley-pole of an elec- 

 tric car standing at the end 

 of its run. Then, else- 

 where, one took possession 

 of a street-car and sent the 

 passengers scampering in 

 every direction. Then we 

 have heard of bees going 

 into caves, rocks, holes in 

 the ground, and into hol- 

 low trees, chimneys, etc. 

 The past spring one of my 

 swarms chose to alight as 

 showTi in the accompany- 

 ing half-tone. We have 

 a small patch of red rasp- 

 berries, some of the canes 

 of which are supported by 

 wires running lengthwise 

 of the rows. The wires are 

 carried by small posts driv- 

 en at convenient distances, 

 and to these are cross-arms, 

 at the ends of which the 

 wires are attached by sta- 

 ples. It was on one of 

 these wire-supporters that 

 the swarm mentionetl 

 alighted. The wire on the 

 left, as well as the berry- 

 vines, had to be removed 

 in order to get a good view 

 of the swarm. 



It is a rather novel posi- 

 tion for a swarm of bees 

 to assume, hence my send- 

 ing you it as a curiosity. 



Here I might remark, 



without trying to be unduly "punnish," 

 if I may be allowed to use such a word, the 

 bees of the swarm shown had not a cross 

 disposition, though they assumed a cross 

 position. 



HIVING BEES MADE EASY. 



One day during the past swarming-season 

 I had several swarms issue the same day in 

 quick succession. The first alighted on the 

 lower branches of a rather young cherry- 

 tree, so that it was an easy matter to secure 

 them with the aid of a short step-ladder. 

 Instead of using a basket into which to 

 shake the swarm I took a pail or bucket 

 made out of a kerosene-can. I had hardly 

 shaken the bees on the cloth upon which I 

 set the hive I intended this new swarm to 

 occupy, when I discovered a second colony 

 sending forth issue. I knew at once where 

 these swarming bees would alight or make 

 for. I lost no time in gathering the cloth 

 about the hive, thus securing the bees in a 



NOT CROSS BEES BUT A CROSS OF BEES. 



