2 The Townsend Bee Book 
possible to the part where most of the bees were, and with a tin 
dipper the greater part of them were dipped up and emptied at 
the hive entrance. By the time we had most of the bees dipped 
out of the tree in front of the new hive there was this loud ‘‘ hom- 
ing ’’ call as the bees commenced running in. At this point of the: 
procedure the few bees that were left in the tree were smoked 
until they took wing, and then we stepped back so as to be out of 
the way. All of the flying bees, attracted by the loud hum, soon 
entered the new hive, which was moved home that night when all 
flying was over for the day. 
It occurs to me to mention here the fact that any beginner 
noticing a swarm issuing should not rush off to a neighbor for a 
hive, leaving the swarm clustered, for, as likely as not, the bees 
will be gone on his return. The better way is to hive them in a 
soap-box or anything else, for that matter, that can be used tem- 
porarily, and, when hived, the box should be set on the stand 
where it is to remain until the new hive can be brought. Then, as 
soon as the new hive is obtained, he should go to the swarm in the 
box and blow some smoke in at the entrance in order to avoid 
stings. (A beginner should wear a veil until he is thoroughly 
acquainted with the bees, simply so that he will not be nervous.) 
As soon as the new hive is ready the box should be removed 
from the stand and the empty hive set in its place, with a board 
slanting up from the ground to the entrance. Now the swarm may 
be hived just as though it still hung on the tree or limb where it 
clustered at first. By carefully lifting the box off the bottom- 
board, and carrying it to the new hive, most of the bees can be 
shaken out on to the alighting-board with a quick jerk, and they 
will run in just as though they had been shaken from a limb. 
To return to my swarm taken out of the tree, I will simply 
say that it was divided that season, both colonies gathering suffi- 
cient honey to winter well. My next step after getting the bees 
home was to subscribe for Gleanings. It began coming in July, 
and has been coming regularly ever since. 
HOW MANY COLONIES TO START WITH 
The first things to decide upon are the number of colonies 
to buy, the size of hives, and the season of the year when the start 
should be made. When I began beekeeping, many of the colonies 
around me were in hives of a size and style not to my liking; in 
fact, there was no standard frame in use then as there is now, and 
the beginner simply followed some one of the leading honey-pro- 
ducers, adopting his hive and frame. All these things are now 
