foolish old country custom, but it is very pleasant to see, and 

 as the principal parties concerned — the bees — are deaf, they at 

 least can take no offence at it. I see no harm in the continued 

 use of the key and the pan at swarming time. 



The bees' feeding ground should not be too far from home. 

 No doubt they wiU travel incredible distances in search of 

 suitable food, but wary in this as in all else, they will never be 

 found with so heavy a load coming from a great distance, as 

 when their pasturage is close at hand. Most flowers cultivated 

 in gardens are good for the bee, as is sanfoin, buck-wheat, and 

 clover. The horse-chestnut and the lime-tree are bound to 

 pay heavy toU to the bee — and should there happen to be in 

 your vicinity a heath or common well covered with furze, the 

 quality of your honey is assured. Poisonous plants, it would 

 seem, yield poisonous honey. Dr. Hosack quotes two cases 

 where the eaters of such honey as nearly as possible died. 

 However, the honey in question was of a darker colour than 

 ordinary, so after all it is very possible that the fault did not 

 lie with the bees at all, but with the rogue who adulterated the 

 contents of the wholesome comb. 



The hives when they occupy open ground should each be 

 placed on a separate stand, at least three feet apart. The 

 aspect should be southerly, and they should be protected from 

 rough winds. A good authority on the subject says, " It is 

 not material in what aspect th« stock stands, provided the sun 

 shines upon the hive once in the course of the day, as well- 

 peopled hives, kept dry, wiU thrive in most situations." 



If after swarming, the weather should become unfavourable, 

 you must supply your bees with food. Any sugary syrup 

 will answer. It may be placed in a saucer with some chips 

 of wood to serve the bees as rafts to settle on while they 

 feed. 



Among the quaint superstitions favoured by the lower 

 order of bee-keepers is one that insists that should a. death 

 occur in the family, unless the honey-makers are at onco 

 apprised of the circumstance they wiQ pine away and die. 

 Mr. Jesse relates that an old widow once complained to him 

 that aU her stock of bees had died, and on inquiring the 

 cause, she informed him that on the death of her husband, a 

 short time before, she had neglected to tap at each of the hives 

 to inform the bees of the melancholy event. Mr. Loudon also 

 mentions that when he was in Bedfordshire he was informed of 

 an old man who sang a psalm in front of some hives which 



