56 THE APIARY. 



necessarily required to establish a new colony, even sup- 

 posing the cottager succeeds in saving the swarm, 

 would otherwise be employed in collecting honey, and in 

 enriching the old hive. Here, then, is one of the features 

 of this plan — viz., the prevention of smarming. The period 

 when symptoms of swarming begin to present them- 

 selves may be known by an unusual noise, the appear- 

 ance of more than common activity among the bees in 

 the middle box, and, above all, by a sudden rise of tem- 

 perature, which will be indicated by the quicksilver in 

 the thermometer rising to seventy -five degrees, as scaled 

 on the thermometer in the box ; when these symptoms 

 are apparent, the bee-master may conclude that addi- 

 tional space is required. The top sliding tin should now 

 be withdrawn from under the bell-glass, which will open . 

 to the bees a new store-room ; this they will soon occupy, 

 and fill with combs and honey of pure whiteness, if the 

 weather be favourable for their uninterrupted labour. It 

 may be well here to mention, that if the glass have a small 

 piece of clean worker comb attached to the perforated 

 ventilating tube, the bees will more speedily commence 

 their operations in it. When the glass is nearly filled, 

 which in a good season will be in a very short space of 

 time, the bees will again require increased accommoda- 

 tion; this will also be indicated by the thermometer 

 further rising to eighty-five degrees. The end box, as 

 thereon marked, must now be given them. Previously to- 

 drawing up a slide to enlarge their crowded house, the 



