THE FARMER'S MANUAL. 18(7 



seek for a new habitation. A swarm, therefore, is 

 nothing more than a colony of Bees which are for- 

 saking their native home in quest of another place of 

 residence. This change of abode now becomes ne- 

 cessary from their obedience to nature's law, increase 

 and multiply, and is absolutely necessary to the pre- 

 servation arid support of the whole, as well as the ge- 

 neral principle of increase. One of the fundamen- 

 tal principles amongst Bees is, that the small hives 

 (all other things being equal) generally swarm, one, 

 two, or three days sooner than the large ones ; 1st, 

 from the want of room ; 2d, from their increased 

 heat in bringing forward their eggs. The time in 

 which Bees swarm differs in all countries. Mr. Men- 

 tille says, they swarm in the Isle of Cuba throughout 

 the year, and Don Ulloa says, they cast their swarms 

 every month, and sometimes double. In Europe, 

 generally, as in America, they cast their swarms in the 

 spring and summer, according to the state of the sea- 

 son ; the warmer the climate or weather, the ear- 

 lier they swarm. 



As soon as a young queen has emerged from her 

 nymphal state, she becomes capable of laying eggs, 

 this is never done in the mother hive, but always in 

 a new habitation. The Bees rally around their 

 queen, and conduct, or follow her to some secure re- 

 treat, where she may deposit her eggs to lay the 

 foundation of a new swarm. This retreat being se- 

 cured, she deposits her eggs as before stated, and 

 thus lays the foundation for a new swarm the next 

 spring. Several important things are now necessary 

 to be understood, and carefully attended to, as the 

 sure signs of their being about to swarm. 1st, An 

 extraordinary number of Bees which hang in clus- 

 ters about the hives. 2d, An apparent idleness 

 amongst the Bees. 3d, A particular noise of chip, 

 chip, made by the young queen, two or three nights 

 before they swarm. 4th, An unusual bustle amongst 

 the drones. 5tb, A sudden silence succeeding a vio 



