SWAEMINQ. |03 



they ascertain that the queen is no longer among 

 them, it may be known by their uneasy movements, 

 and they will soon leave, and join those in the hive ; 

 but if the queen is yet on the tree, and but a dozen 

 with her, they will leave the hive and cluster again. 



ALL SHOULD BE MADE TO ENTER. 



In all cases be sure to get them all to enter ; a clus- 

 ter outside of it may contain the queen, unconscious of 

 a home so near ; and the probable consequence might 

 be, she would leave for a miserable one in the woods. 



SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE STAND IMMEDIATELY. 



When all are in, except a few that will be flying, 

 let the hive down close to the board ; take hold of 

 this and carry it at once to the stand they are to oc- 

 cupy, and raise the front edge half an inch ; let the 

 back rest on the board ; this will give them means to 

 re-ascend, if they chance to drop, which large swarms 

 pffcen do in hot weather. If the bottom, is an inch or 

 more from the board when the bees fall, there is noth- 

 ing to prevent their rushing out on every side — ^their 

 means of getting up again are bad — ^if the queen comes 

 out with the rush, there are some chances for their 

 leaving. 



PROTECTION FROM THE SUN NECESSARY. 



Another thing is very important ; swarms should he 

 protected from the sun for several days, in , hot weather, 

 frpm nine o'clock till three or four ; and then if the 

 heat is very oppressive, and the bees cluster outside, 



