244 SWARMING. 



PERIODS, CAUSE AND REMEDY OF DESERTING. 



There are periods when swarms have a propens- 

 ity to desert their hives, even after they have built 

 some comb ; they also desert habitations of their own 

 choice in like manner ; these periods occur but sel- 

 dom, perhaps only once in two or three years, and 

 only last for one, two or three days; the cause is 

 altogether unknown ; no writer that I have consulted 

 has even noticed the fact. One of these periods 

 occurred about the first of July, 1851. I was at- 

 tending an apiary containing upwards of eighty hives ; 

 during the week, the number of swarms per day was 

 from two to four ; all were secured, and apparently did 

 well until Saturday morning, about half past seven 

 o'clock, a swarm that had been hived on Tuesday 

 left their hive with the apparent determination to go 

 to the woods. With the aid of an assistant, I suc- 

 ceeded, after much difficulty, in compelling them to 

 alight, and finally rehived them, when they were re- 

 stored to their stand. The indications were favora- 

 ble for a number of swarms ; during the day, pails 

 of water were kept standing as was our practice, 

 for the purpose of forcing hives to defer swarming 

 when two or more attempted to do so at the same 

 time. A short time after the capture of the fugitive 

 swarm as above stated, another one, hived on the 

 same day as the first deserter, commenced to leave 

 in the same manner ; by the aid of water, and clos- 

 ing the hive for a time, they were prevented from 

 leaving. Six different swarms, hived that week, at- 



