52 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



NATURAL SWARMING. 



" Ten thousand pinions, guided by Thy hand, 

 Wander, unwearied, through the blue abyss, 

 They own Thy power — accomplish Thy command. 

 All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss ! " Derzhazin. 



The issue of a swarm of Bees in the bright and merry 

 months of spring, is one of the most beautiful and de- 

 lightful sights and sounds to be met with in the country 

 side ; everybody within view or hearing is attracted by 

 the tumultuous assemblage, and if in a district where old 

 customs are still rife, " tang-tang-tang " is heard on every 

 side as the cottagers turn out with key and shovel to 

 " ring the Bees." It is a popular idea that unless this is 

 done the swarm will be likely to fly to a far distance, and 

 perhaps be lost. I need hardly say the " ringing " has no 

 effect whatever on the Bees, but the pleasant reminis- 

 cences connected therewith make it always a welcome 

 sound to hear. 



Swarms do not usually issue until May or June, rarely 

 in April. Early swarms are always desirable if the 

 weather continue fine and warm, but if it be succeeded 

 by cold or wet, then the early swarm becomes a misfor- 

 tune ; in the first place, the Bees have neither combs nor 

 food, and being unable to go out foraging, must neces- 

 sarily perish, unless fed regularly. The Mother hive also, 

 lately so crowded, misses the comfortable warmth gener- 

 ated by its departed population, and the Nurses with 

 difficulty keep the temperature sufficiently high to mature 

 the brood, so that in this contingency it will be seen it is 

 more desirable for the swarm to issue later, when the 

 weather can with more certainty be depended on. 



Swarming is an act of necessity, not choice, and is a 



