58 SWARMiXG AND HIVING. 



gave the bees time to send out their scouts, to look 

 up a location of their own, and when these scouts 

 returned, they left with them for a new home. I 

 contend every S"warm does this, viz. : They swarm 

 out of the old parent stock, led by the old queen. 

 They cluster on some object, as a tree, bush or 

 vine, near the old home. Then they immediately 

 send out a few bees or scouts to look up a new 

 home. These scouts may be gone a longer or 

 shorter time. When they return, if the)- find the 

 bees clustered where they were when they left, they 

 soon lead them off to the new quarters, but if before 

 the scouts are sent out, or before thev return, the 

 swarm is hived and placed on the stand it is to 

 occupy, then the swarm will not leave, for the 

 scouts know not where to find them, or if the)' 

 should find them, the beeS would seldom leave a 

 good clean hive, for a home in the woods. These 

 scouts may often be seen playing about the place 

 where a swarm has clustered, for several days after 

 the swarm has been hived. 



Had this bee keeper placed his hive on the table, 

 as soon as the bees were clustered, and raised the 

 front edge one inch, instead of four or six inches, 

 and then, instead of cutting ofl^ the limb, if he had 

 taken a basket or pan, placed it beneath the cluster 

 of bees, and by a sudden jar of the limb dislodged 

 them from it into the basket or pan, then empied 

 them down in front of the hive, and sprinkled light- 

 ly with a little water, at the same time disturbing 

 them gently with a quill or light brush so they 

 \'\-ould not collect around and block up the entrance, 



