28 THE APIARY. 



having- dined sumptuously, they require to be positively 

 provoked before they will , sting-. Yet there may be one 

 or two foolish bees who, having neglected to fill their 

 honey bags, are inclined to vent their ill-humour on the 

 kind apiarian. When all is ready, the new hive is held 

 or placed in an inverted position under the cluster of 

 bees, which the operator detaches from their perch with 

 one or two quick shakes ; the floorboard is then placed 

 on the hive, which is then slowly turned up on to its base, 

 and it is well to leave it a short time in the same place, 

 in order to allow of stragglers joining their companions. 



If the new swarm is intended for transportation to a 

 distance, it is as well for it to be left at the same spot 

 until evening, provided the sun is shaded from it : but if 

 the hive is meant to stand in or near the same g-arden, 

 it is better to remove it within half an hour to its perma- 

 nent position, because so eager are newly-swarmed 

 bees for pushing forward the work of furnishing their 

 empty house, that they sally forth at once in search of 

 materials. 



A swarm of bees, in their natural state, contains from 

 10,000 to 20,000 insects, whilst in an established hive 

 of Italian bees they number 40,000 and upwards. Five 

 thousand bees are said to weigh one pound; a good 

 swarm will weigh from three to five pounds. We have 

 known swarms not heavier than ■2.\ pounds that were in 

 very excellent condition in August as regards store for 

 the winter. 



