and its Economic Management. igi 



Swarms should always be purchased by weight, and the 

 buyer ought to insist upon receiving no other. There are 

 3,500 bees to the pound, and four or five pounds would give a 

 good working swarm. The plan of offering swarms containing 

 so many thousand bees, when in reality not more than a third 

 of the number make up the swarm forwarded, is becoming a 

 thing of the past, and I do not suppose many would be caught 

 in the trap now ; nevertheless, swarms of no guaranteed 

 weight are still advertised, and it is time bee-keepers set their 

 faces against the practice. 



Weighing Bees. 



Where natural or other swarms are weighed after clustering 

 inside the travelling box, they can be first secured and carried 

 to the scales, and the weight marked upon the label. If they 

 have to go a long journey, either place a feeding bottle over 

 the zinc until starting or see that a frame with sufficient sealed 

 stores is securely fixed in before the swarm is hived ; the 

 weight of such comb and the box to be noted, and presently 

 deducted from the gross weight. 



Where a definite quantity 'is ordered, the scales are to be 

 carried to the hive by any convenient arrangement that 

 provides correct balance ; take the weight of the package, and 

 if the opening is not wide enough to admit a comb end-way, 

 use a funnel lined with zinc. Now make sure oi the queen 

 and then shake from the combs the necessary quantity of bees, 

 and insert the queen last of all ; close at once and pack for the 

 journey. 



They aire to be first smoked in the usual way, and all the 

 time they do not miss the quee'n, the bulk of the bees shot into 

 the box will remain simply clustering on the sides. " The 

 operation should take place in early morning or towards 

 evening as the bees are more restful, and they can be put up 

 in less time as there are more at home. Give food if necessary 

 as before. 



