THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



89 



consequence such colonies do not 

 cast swarms at all in the spring or 

 very late. 



Because of this, unscrupulous 

 apiarists having straw sleeps act 

 more wisely when they dispose of 

 tlieir lightest and heaviest colonies 

 and keep those of medium weight 

 for themselves. Of course every 

 one, when weighing a hive or skep, 

 will take into account the size of 

 the same, also the season and the 

 activity of the bees, as it may be 

 heavy either with brood or moths. 



The time of purchasing bees 

 varies and we cannot always do as 

 we would in the matter. To pur- 

 chase in the latter part of February 

 or March is the best and surest 

 but the most expensive, and as a 

 rule it is generally difficult to pur- 

 chase bees at such time, as people 

 seldom keep bees over winter to 

 sell in the spring. In the fall they 

 are the cheapest and most plenti- 

 ful. Purchase when you will, the 

 colonies should be thoroughly ex- 

 amined. (This is accomplished 

 best at noon as at that time, even 

 in the winter, if the weather is not 

 too severe, one can lay the hives on 

 the sides, and if the bees are fly- 

 ing they will sting less if handled 

 carefully.) 



You should tap the hive with the 

 fingers and place your ear to its 

 sides ; if you perceive a short, brok- 

 en noise and hum within, the colony 

 is weak in numbers ; the more pro- 

 longed the noise the stronger the 

 colonj^ Blow in at the entrance 

 of each hive when most of the bees 

 will remove and cluster at the en- 

 trance. Those that show the lar- 



gest number of bees at the entrance 

 are the most populous, energetic 

 and the best. You should then 

 raise the hives or invert them and 

 examine the interior. Notice if 

 thej^ are weighty, if the combs are 

 well built out ; whether they are 

 not very black and thick, and very 

 old ; that there are no traces of the 

 moth worm, nor webs about the 

 combs nor black excrescences on 

 the bottom boards of the hives ; or if 

 perchance there may not be some of 

 the moths in the pupa stage upon 

 the sides of the interior of the hives, 

 especially if you are examining 

 them in the latter part of February 

 or early in March. If the purchaser 

 should have to stand security for the 

 safet}'^ of the colony until, say, the 

 time of apple bloom, stipulation 

 should be made upon which the 

 price and bargain will depend. 



When one has purchased bees 

 it is more advisable for both parties 

 that the bees should be taken to 

 their new home at once. If this 

 is not done, however, one should 

 paste a piece of paper over the top 

 board of the hive or a band with 

 two seals, one at each end, for there 

 are dishonest people who will cut 

 the hone}'- combs at the top and 

 replace the top board and often 

 ruin the entire hive in that waj-. 



If one purchases young swarms, 

 (which is the more advisable, if he 

 desires to purchase bees in his 

 immediate vicinity), he should 

 stipulate for the first swarms which 

 are cast by midsummer and these 

 are worth a florin more than those 

 cast later. 



One should provide three or four 



