A. AND M. COLLEGE APIARY. 43 



on a limb or bush, and remain there for some time, varying from a few 

 minutes to several hours. It is supposed that while thus clustered they 

 send out scouts to find a suitable location, as a hollow tree, wherein the 

 new colony can make its home. This habit of clustering before leaving 

 definitely makes it possible for the apiarist to capture the new swarm, 

 although in some cases they depart from the apiary without showing any 

 inclination to cluster. Evidence is at hand, also, that a swarm may 

 wander about for several days or longer, gradually losing in numbers 

 until entirely destroyed ; or, in event of their not finding a suitable loca- 

 tion, will sometimes cluster beneath a protecting limb and there con- 

 struct combs in the open air and proceed to brood rearing and honey 

 storing. 



When clustered upon a limb the colony is easily secured by cutting 

 off the limb upon which it is clustered and shaking the entire swarm 



Fig. 23. Manum's swarm-catcher. (After A. I. 

 Boot Co.) 



off onto the ground in front of the hive which it is desired they should 

 occupy. This hive should be prepared before hand and placed in its 

 permanent location, awaiting the swarming time of the bees. The 

 frames should all contain full sheets of foundation, wired, and when 

 the swarm is placed in the hive a frame of brood, without bees, should 

 be taken from another colony and placed therein. This will insure 

 their remaining in the new hive. The super should also be placed upon 

 the hive at once, as immediately following the swarming experience the 

 bees repair to work with renewed vigor. Aside from the method above 

 mentioned, of cutting off the limb upon which the swarm is clustered, 

 a unique and effectual device for capturing swarms is the "Manum 

 Swarm-catcher/' shown in Fig. 23. This consists of a wire basket with 

 a hinged cover, the entire being mounted upon the end of a long 

 pole, supplied with sharp-pointed iron legs attached a few feet above 

 the lower end. The basket is held below the cluster, given a sharp jar 



