SWARMING. 18T 



hive full in time, are very sure to have bees enough 

 to go into the boxes to work. I have known them to 

 do so in three weeks after being hived. 



OBJECTION TO USING BOXES BEFORE THE HIVE IS FULL. 



Some put on boxes at the -time of hiving the bees. 

 In such cases the box is often filled first, and nearly 

 as often "will contain brood. I consider it no advan- 

 tage, and often a damage to do so ; as I want the hive 

 full any way — and then if they have time let them into 

 boxes, although it may be buckwheat, instead of clover 

 honey that we get. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



SWAEMING. 



TIME TO EXPECT THEM. 



The season for regular swarms in this section, I have 

 known to commence the 15th of May, and in some 

 seasons the 1st of July. The end is about the 15th 

 of the latter month, with some exceptions. I have 

 had one as late as the 21st ; also a few buckwheat 

 swarms between the 12th and 25th of August. 

 • The subject now before us is one of thrilling interest. 

 To the apiarian the prospect of an increase of stocks is 

 sufficieni^ create some interest, even when the phe- 

 nomenon of swarming would fail to awaken it. But 

 to the naturalist this season has charms that the indif- 

 ' ferent beholder can never realize. 



