298 CAUTION IN PURCHASING A SWARM A FRAUD. 



of bees, and it is to the want of due attention to this 

 point, that so many failures occur in the manage- 

 ment of an apiary. 



" The examination of the interior of the hive is 

 attended with greater difficulty to the young apia- 

 rian, 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 advisable 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, is generally 'attended with success. 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 



