State Bee-Keepers' Association. 109 



The best method in all cases, therefore, is to purchase the best stocks, 

 those containing a large number of bees, a good suppy of honey, and that 

 these bees are sufficient to cover almost the entire comb. Before purchas- 

 ing, be sure that there is no diseased brood occupying the cells, and that no 

 swarms have been lost from this cause. If no disease prevails in the hives, 

 then old stocks are not objectionable, as, if they swarmed the previous sea- 

 son, they have the young queens, who are more prolific than the old ones, 

 who always accompany the first swarms; and as long as they remain healthy 

 are as prosperous as the young swarms. 



SWARMING. 



The swarming season in this latitude sometimes commences as early as 

 the 15th of May, and at other times as late as the ist of July. It usually 

 commences about ten or twenty days after white clover comes into bloom . 

 As a general rule, bees swarm for lack of room or want of thorough ventila- 

 tion mside the hive. 



METHOD OF HIVING BEES. 



It makes but little difference how they are put into the hive, provided 

 they are all made to enter. One essential thing is to have your hive in 

 readiness. The hives should be stored in a cool place, as bees will enter a 

 cool hive much quicker than one that has stood in the hot sun all day. 

 Place upon the ground under the swarm cluster, Ihe hive with a large piece 

 of board just in front of it, upon which the bees can be poured. If they are 

 to be hived in a box hive, one side should be raised one inch by placing 

 under the front corner two sticks or blocks to hold it up from the bottom 

 board. If in a moveable comb hive, raise the front, if on a movable bottom 

 board, if not, open the entrance as wide as possible. If the swarm has 

 clustered on a small branch or limb, it may be cut off if not detrimental to 

 the tree, and brought down, and the bees shaken off in front of the hive. A 

 knowledge that a new home is found is at once apparent. If any large num- 

 ber linger around the entrance, nearly closing it, you can expediate their 

 progress by gently disturbing them with a small twig. If gentle means do 

 not induce them to enter in a reasonable time and they seem obstinate, a 

 little water sprinkled on them will facilitate operations. Too much water 

 must not be used or they will become so wet that they will not move at all. 

 If you do not wish to cut the limb they cluster on they may be shaken into a 

 basket. In this event it is well to sprinkle the cluster with a pailful of cold 

 water (ice water not objectionable), which will cause them to cluster closer, 

 and hardly one will leave the basket. If you get nearly all the bees the first 

 effort, shaking the limb will prevent the remainder from alighting, and will 

 turn their attention to those who have found a home and are loudly calling 

 them to come. There many other methods, under different circumstances, 

 which our space does not permit us to explain, but which will probably sug- 

 gest themselves to the bee-keeper. 



