THE SWARMING OF BEES 71 



neighbourhood, they are likely to go no farther in 

 their quest. Thus it is the practice of many bee 

 keepers to place about the apiary hives empty, except 

 for brood-frames filled with foundation, hoping 

 thus to entice the swarms to take possession, and save 

 all trouble. Mr. Root goes so far as to advise that 

 such hives be fastened in the lower forks of trees in 

 the neighbourhood of the apiary, and thus provide 

 a most expedient bee tree. A decoy hive should not 

 contain more than three brood-frames, as other 

 frames may be added when the bees move in. The 

 reason for this is that the sheets of wax foundation, 

 when sufficiently close together for the convenience 

 of the bees, prove also entirely convenient for the 

 occupancy of the bee moth; and one ought to be 

 particular about one's tenants when renting houses 

 in the apiary. 



Mr. West's device for saving swarms is the most 

 alluring of any about which we have read. Since 

 the clipped queen cannot fly, she expresses the as- 

 piration within her breast by climbing anything at 

 hand, like a blade of grass or a shrub. Mr. West 

 observing this, drives a bare, forked branch into the 

 ground a few inches in front of the hive, having 

 cleaned the ground between it and the hive of all 

 obstacles. This branch having a few twigs upon it, 

 is leaned away from the hive entrance. The queen 

 promptly climbs this tree, like Zaccheus, and the 

 swarm clusters around her and remains there con- 

 veniently at hand for hiving. 



