SWARMING. 207 



sapportable, or at least very oppressive ; the bees hang 

 in loose strings, instead of a compact body, as when 

 kept cool ; they are very apt to fall, and when they 

 do, will rush out from every side: if the queen 

 chances to drop with them, they may " step out." 

 Two thirds of all the bees that go to the woods are 

 managed" in this, or a similar manner, and may it not 

 be said, they are fairly driven off? 



SELDOM GO OFF WITHOUT CLUSTERING. 



Perhaps one swarm in three hundred will depart 

 for the woods without first clustering. I have had 

 three times that number, not one of which has ever 

 left me thus. Yet I have evidence not to be disputed 

 that some will do it. Three instances have occurred 

 near me that satisfied me of the fact. Two were lost, 



■ the other was followed to a tree, half a mile off; I 

 assisted in cutting the tree, and hiving them. The 

 cavity where they entered was very small, and con- 

 tained old comb, made by a swarm a year or two pre- 

 vious, which had probably starved, as there was too 

 little room for storing sufficient honey for winter. 

 This swarm, when hived and carried home, remained 



iperfectly contented. 



DO SWAKMS bnOOSE ALLOCATION BEFORE SWARMING 1 



• The inquiry is often made, Do all swarms have a 



•place looked out before leaving the parent stock? 



The answer to this must ever be guess-work. I could 



offer some circumstances indicating the af&rmative 



very strongly, and as much for the negative; and 



