BEES, BEE-HIVES, AND BEE CULTURE. 15 



and does not always repay even those most accustomed to such 

 manipulation. 



With regard to preparations for taking a swarm, our advice to 

 the bee-keeper must be the reverse of Mrs. Glasses notable injunction 

 as to the cooking of a hare. Some time before you expect to take a 

 swarm, be sure to have a proper hive in which to take it, and also 

 every other requisite properly ready. Here we will explain what was 

 said in the introduction as to the safety of moving and handling 

 bees. A bee-veil or dress will preserve the most sensitive from the 

 possibility of being stung. This article, which may be bought with 

 the hives, is made of net close enough to exclude bees, but open 

 enough for the operator's vision. It is made to go over the hat of 

 a lady or cap of a gentleman ; it can be tied round the waist, and 

 has sleeves fastening at the wrist. A pair of photographer's india 

 rubber gloves completes the full dress of the apiarian, who is then 

 invulnerable even to enraged bees. But bees when swarming are 

 in an eminently peaceful frame of mind ; 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 garden, it is better to remove it within half an hour 

 to its permanent 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 they number 40,000 

 and upwards. 5,000 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. 



