42 REPOETS. 



it rests a Ittle, by means of a few narrow sticks placed at the corners 

 of the hive's. This arrangement will give the bees a better cir- 

 culation of air at that season ; more easy access in the swarming 

 time, and a greater opportunity to remove all foreign substances, 

 should any such find admission to the bees sacred domain. 



TEE COLONIZATION OF BEES. 



"We come now to another department of bee culture, and it is 

 an important one. Shall we colonize bees, or shall we not? If 

 so, how shall colonies be promoted ? Unless we would lose our 

 stock, truly we should promote this, and this may be accomplish- 

 ed in various ways. One way to do this, is to import bees. But 

 is this the best way? Truly are Russia, Germany and Italy 

 ready to supjily your demands ; yea, Siberia, Africa and South 

 America, will willingly lay their hordes at your door. But will 

 this mode of increase pay? For the common farmer it will' not 

 pay. The rich may thus increase their store, and experiment at 

 great expense for the benefit of the poor, if they choose. But 

 the first outlay for imported bees is two great, too serious a draw- 

 b ick for the poor here to embark. He can only let the rich en- 

 gage in this enterprise, and gather the few crumbs of information 

 and honey-drops, which fall from his more wealthy friend's 

 table. 



Another mode of colonizing, is that of " artificial Colonies." 

 By this method, the apiarist drives from a single hive, just at the 

 right season, the old queen with a suitable number of bees to 

 make a swarm, which are transferred into another hive. Or 

 another mode is to gather bees from the various hives, among 

 which shall be a queen. These are all located in a hive newly 

 prepared, which they soon adopt as their future home, and in 

 which they readily become a happy family, and engage in all the 

 duties and pleasures of house-keeping. Truly artificial coloniza- 

 tions may be expedient, and even the best at times; yea, circum- 

 etances may even compel the owner to adopt this mode, in order 



