32 THE COTTAGE AND PAKM BEE KEEPER. 



them remain in this condition tiE the following morning early. Now 

 remove the cloth, and set the foil hive on its old stand, when the bee3 

 will be found to have harmoniously coalesced. The hives must not 

 in anywise be meddled with during the time afforded them for ami- 

 cably settling their differences. "What honey is found in the fumiga- 

 ted hive becomes the spoil of the bee master ; being probably consid- 

 erable, he must console himself therewith for his loss. 



Let us suppose, however, that both his stocks survive the winter 

 and spring, and on the approach of May, are in strong' and vigorous 

 health, and promise early swarms. Towards the end of April, his 

 improved hive with the flat roof, (the other, be it remembered, is still 

 the old hive originally purchased, and has no hole ; one however might be 

 cut out of its top,) must be furnished with a large cap or bee glass, more 

 particularly if there is any intention of reffiirning the prime swarm, 

 with a view to get rid of the old queen ; for, in this case, the interval 

 which must elapse between the return and the re-issue of the swarm 

 will be often so considerable, as to afford plenty of time for filling a 

 fine glass, owing to the large and rapid increase of the population. In 

 very good seasons, two glasses may be taken off. 



And now swarming time, that most interesting of all seasons to the 

 lover of bees, has, we will suppose, again come round, and hi3 heart 

 is elate with hope, while anticipating less disappointment than under 

 the old system. The bee master is now frequently about his hives, 

 supplying water, shading from the sun, and watching the progress of 

 his bees. The early appearance of drones is hailed by him as an es- 

 pecial augury of prosperity ; and they may be seen in some forward 

 seasons so early as the middle of April. The carrying in of large 

 quantities of pollen, also, is noted with infinite satisfaction. 



Let us now take the case of the old stock, which swarmed the year 

 before ; this being smaller than the swarm which issued from it, and 

 certainly containing a queen of the previous year, is the first to swarm, 

 and that on or before the 25th of May. As soon as settled, the bees 

 should be swept into the larger-sized hive, similar to the one used the 

 year before, if it be intended to preserve it as a stock hive to another 

 spring ; and the new swarm put in the place of the parent stock, re- 

 moving this to a stand close by. The same x treatment, also, will be 

 adopted with the first swarm that issues from the other stock, 

 should it have a youthful queen as the other, and be reserved for win- 



