POULTRY AXD BEES. 505 



coat. Over the face sew into the cloth wire gauze ; if just coarse 

 enough to prevent the entrance of a bee it will not obstruct the 

 sight, A little sugar and water sprinkled on the bees at any 

 time will make them docile. Have a sprinkler with a fine rose 

 spout, put in sweetened water, lift off the cover of the hive, 

 and, before they recover from their astonishment, give them a 

 sprinkling, and their animosity is all gone; you can takeout 

 their combs, brush them oft", cut out pieces of comb, and do just 

 as you please with them, so that you do not squeeze them, which 

 indignity they will resent. Many men open their hives and 

 examine their bees without even this precaution. In every 

 case great care should be taken to make no sudden, quick 

 motions about the hives; not to jar the combs, but lift each 

 one slowly and carefully ; not to breathe on the bees, which will 

 instantly rouse their anger, when not dosed with sweetening; 

 and lastl}'-, not to crush any, by either inserting frames, adjust- 

 ing honey board, honey boxes, or cover, or in any of the opera- 

 tions of hiving. 



Second Swarms are more clearly indicated tlian first swarms. 

 The second swarm comes out from six to ten days after the first. 

 If you listen at the hive in the morning you will hear the 

 piping of the queen. It is different from any other sound ever 

 heard in the hive ; it sounds like pee/, peet^ several times re- 

 peated. When this is heard a swarm may be expected within 

 two days, and usually the next day, if the weather is good and 

 honey abundant. The third swarm will come oft" within four 

 days after the second. These swarms, after the first, grow 

 smaller, and are likely to come out at any time of day ; they 

 are also more likely to go a distance before clustering. We 

 should lay it down as a safe rule that third swarms should be 

 returned. Hive them in the usual way, and the next day return 

 them to their old quarters. AVhere there are large crops of 



