22 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



eral. At length, the whole, partaking of the impulse, rush 

 to the outlets of the hive, and the Queen along with them. 

 This is an event that only happens in clear weather, and 

 during the warmest part of the day. 



On issuing from the hive, they do not generally appear 

 to have any place of settlement in view. The agitation 

 produced soon raises the degree of heat among them very 

 considerably; and it may be this circumstance that at last 

 induces them to leave their dwelling. They will, however, 

 return to it, if the Queen be taken away. 



They often resort to a place unsuitable in point of con- 

 venience, and unfit for their preservation. After rising in 

 the air, it is commonly some tree that arrests their pro- 

 gress; and the Queen frequently alights at the extremity 

 of a branch; where the Bees which may have formed in 

 clusters in the vicinity come to surround her. Sometimes 

 they will swarm in the grass, near the hive they have for- 

 saken; though there may be trees at no great distance. 



Sometimes all the precursors of swarming, disorder, and 

 agitation have been exhibited ; when a cloud passing before 

 the sun has restored tranquility to the hive. 



When more than one Swarm leaves the hive in a sea- 

 son, those following consist of the Bees which were abroad 

 when the first event took place, together with the young 

 ones which have come from the eggs laid by the Queen, 

 before her departure. Each succeeding Swarm is led out 

 by a young Queen, as there are several royal cells in the 

 hive; but the cell that contains the oldest of the royal 

 blood is always opened first; as Bees seem to have an idea 

 of the right of succession, and a knowledge of the one on 

 whom it should fall. Sometimes, however, two young 

 Queens will be found in the hive at once. 



If the Swarm be not removed from the place where it 

 settles, it soon commences its labors ; and the same may be 

 observed, if it be removed to an empty hive. Cells or 

 combs are soon constructed of wax from the honey the 

 Bees have carried with them; and the first eggs laid will 

 be those of the operative part of the Community. 



Hiving gone thus far into the natural history of Bees, 

 something is now to be said of the best means of managing 

 them. 



The method practised in this Country is, to have rows 

 of beehives set close together, in a building made for the 

 purpose, which is called the bee-house. The apiary, spok- 

 en of by British Writers, seems to be quite different from 

 this; as the hives are recommended to stand six, some say 

 twelve, feet apart; and to be firmly fixed in a stake set 

 into the ground. We have, however, never seen any par- 

 ticular advantage pointed out, by having the hives so far 



