64 THE APIARY. 



because bees, though they provision themselves for a 

 couple of days, cannot with safety be confined in an 

 empty hive much longer. 



Having novi^, we will suppose, procured your swarm, 

 and placed it in a south or south-east aspect, you may, 

 with advantage if the weather be wet, give a little 

 liquid food : the feeding in this hive is performed at the 

 top of the stock-box, where the glass is worked. Our 

 round feeding pan, or the new feeding bottle, may here 

 be used. Any fancy as to the position may be indulged 

 in, but must be settled on by the time the bees are set at 

 liberty, because any alteration afterwards is detrimental 

 to the working of the hive. The bees, on first issuing 

 forth, carefully mark their new abode and the surround- 

 ing objects, so that, if a change be made, they are com- 

 pletely thrown out in their observations, which confuses 

 them not a little, and occasions loss. Bees always return 

 to the same spot ; it is the locality that they know, and 

 if the hive is moved a less distance than a mile, thousands 

 return to the spot on which the hive has been accustomed 

 to stand. » 



Allow your bees to collect honey and build their combs 

 for ten days or a fortnight. Much now depends on the 

 weather ; if fine, by this time they will require additional 

 room, which will be indicated by the thermometer d 

 rapidly rising ; lOO degrees is the swarming point. The 

 hive must be kept below this by ventilation. 



Access must now be given to tfie flat bell-glass at the 



