THE gOTTAGK AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 15 



stock of brood hives when the return of the profitable season is so 

 near at hand, thinned as they not seldom are by the casualties of 

 winter, besides which it is almost cruel to tempt them to do so even 

 with a large bribe. And yet if such hives can be bought without 

 scruple, a good March or April-purchased stock ought not to be over- 

 looked, on account of the more speedy and large return which may be 

 expected from it Should it be found necessary, however, to com- 

 mence with autumn-purchased hives, as will generally be the case, let 

 two good stocks be transferred at once to the apiary; this will give 

 double chance of success, nor will the loss of one hive the following 

 spring be felt so much, if its fellow survives and thrives ad libitum. 



If the commencing bee keeper is not over confident in his own ex- 

 perience, which he will do well not to be, let him procure the assist- 

 ance of some apiarian friend of long standing and tried acquaintance 

 with the whole science of the matter, for true is often the case in this 

 instance as in other things — " all is not gold that glitters ;" of this, the 

 " gude wives" all over the country are well aware ; and, as report says, 

 they are not always, (to their shame be it spoken,) anxious to do to 

 others as they would be done by, not seldom will they take grievous 

 advantage of the ignorance of a novice. If such an experienced friend 

 is not to be found, the following rules will be found useful.' Where 

 the word of the bee merchant is at all to be depended on, let the age 

 of every hive and queen in the apiary be first inquired after, and then 

 proceed to the examination. 



1. A prime swarm of the current year may generally be known by its 

 abundant population, the completeness of its works, and especially by 

 the pale brown or straw colour of its comb. 



2. The bees must be vigorous as well as strong in numbers ; while they 

 fill up well the interstices between the combs, they must be on the 

 alert and waspish — ready, I mean, to resent any intrusion or attempt- 

 ed approach to them. On a fair day, at either season, (but especially 

 in the spring,) they ought to play in and out of their hive with much 

 activity, by far the greater proportion of them being seen, (at least in 

 spring,) to re-enter the hive with well-laden thighs. This is in itself 

 almost decisive, being an unfailing criterion of the present vigor of » 

 hive. 



3. If a current year swarm, the stock should not weigh less than 23 

 lbs. or 24 lbs., exclusive of hive, at or soon after Michaelmas, [September 



