260 CAUTION IN PURCHASING A SWARM A FRAUD. 



and yet this examination is indispensable to the 

 knowledge of the goodness or badness of a hive. 

 The original colour of the combs is white, and it 

 follows, therefore, that in proportion to the differ- 

 ence of shade which the combs present, so is the 

 age of the hive. In old hives the colour of the 

 combs approaches to an absolute black, and there- 

 fore all idea of its purchase should be rejected. A 

 golden colour may be considered as the medium, 

 and if the side-combs appear filled with honey, 

 which may be known by the cells being sealed, little 

 risk can be run in the purchase of the hive. A 

 number of queen cells is an infallible criterion of an 

 old hive, and although a swarm may be obtained 

 from it the succeeding year, yet it would not be ad- 

 visable to purchase it. 



" In regard to the purchase of swarms, it is to be 

 regretted, that a system of deception is often prac- 

 tised by the cunning cottager, which, as it is very 

 difficult of detection, except by the experienced 

 Apiarian, the fraud is generally attended with suc- 

 cess. It is the general practice in the purchase of 

 swarms, when they are bespoke, to send the hives 

 into which the swarms are to be put, as the intended 

 purchaser may entertain a fancy to a hive of a par- 

 ticular shape, and the removal of the bees from one 

 hive to another is an operation too difficult to be 

 undertaken by the young Apiarian. At the regular 

 time, the cottager informs his dupe that the swarm 

 is safely housed, and it is taken away under the 

 supposition that it is a first swarm ; for which, per- 

 haps, the price of a guinea has been paid. The 

 truth, however, will soon disclose itself, that the 



