CHAPTER IV 



HOW TO GET THE BEES 



Getting a start with bees is somewliat 

 different from securing any other kind of 

 live stock that I know about. These lit- 

 tle creatures, in spite of all the care given 

 them, are still very much in their wild 

 state as far as their life habits are con- 

 cerned. We have learned to handle them 

 so that they remain within reasonable 

 bounds, but when the swarming instinct 

 comes over them they revert to the habits 

 of their wild ancestors of thousands of 

 years ago. By swarming the bees in- 

 crease their numbers. It is the natural 

 way in which a crowded colony makes 

 room within its walls and is a provision 

 of nature to make sure that the race will 

 not die out. It is little wonder then that 

 65 



