144 DOMESTIC AUniALS. 



is no profit in it. No man gets the quantity of honey which he feeds. 

 2. It prevents the bees from going abroad to gather honey from the 

 fields. 3. If the bees are fed liberally late in the fall and early in the 

 spring, there will be very few empty cells in which to rear young bees. 

 4. It is deceptive, because a cheap and inferior article is sold for one of 

 superior quality. 5. It results, in the process of time, in the extinction 

 of the bees. The feeding of the bees may be practiced with advantage 

 whenever they are not amply supplied with winter stores, a thing which 

 happens to late swarms and to those from which large quantities of 

 honey have been taken. For this purpose a cheap article may be used 

 to help them through the winter. It may be desirable to take from 

 the bees all the white clover honey which can be obtained in boxes with 

 a view to supply the bees with a cheaper article." 



Daily Examination of the hives for the removal of all filth tends to 

 domesticate the bees, and if done gently the effect is to so accustom 

 them to their keeper that he can handle them with perfect impunity. 



Tlie Position of the Bee-House should be free from exposure to the north 

 and west winds, and from the morning sun. A southwest exposure is 

 recommended by the best authorities. 



SUMMER MANAGEMENT— Preparations for Swarms— Every thing ne- 

 cessary should now be prepared for the establishment of swarms, which 

 may be expected during the next two months, else there may be running 

 hither and thither, while the swarm takes wing and is lost through your 

 delayed preparation. Hives, or boxes if you intend to make use of 

 these, must be kept dry and sweet; stands or stools to place them on 

 must be prepared, and a hand-brush, leather gloves, crape, or other 

 covering for the face, placed in readiness. 



As bees require water to drink, especially through this and the next 

 month, it is necessary to place some for them, if there is no pond or 

 rivulet near. Cotton says that, in the Isle of Wight, the people have a 

 notion that every bee goes down to the sea to drink once a day. Water 

 is needful for them in the breeding season, and they will drink water 

 with salt in it, and like it better than the freshest brook that runs. It 

 is very curious to see how they will flock by thousands to the drink- 

 ing-troughs in April, May, and part of June ; and then their thirst seems 

 to be quenched all of a sudden', for not one will be seen at them. The 

 reason seems to be that they do not want so much water after the 

 greater part of the young brood is hatched. 



Shallow dishes or plates filled with water, and having thin boards, 

 pierced with small holes, floating on it, from which the bees may drink 

 without fear of drowning, are convenient. Small pebbles or rdoss, 

 placed in the plates with the water, will answer almost as well. 



The hives, if old, should be scalded to destroy the larvae of insects. 

 If new, the only preparation is to wet the inside with salt and water, 

 sweetened with either honey, molasses, or sugar. 



Indications of Swarming. — The most certain indications of swarming 

 are, the hive appearing full of bees — clusters of them gathering on the 

 outside, and sometimes hanging from the alighting-board ; they also 

 neglect their daily toil and refrain from going abroad in search of sweets, 

 even though the weather be ever so invitit^. Just before tbey take 



