146 SWAEMING. 



the matches, and cover close for several hours. A little 

 care is necessary to use the right quantity ; if there is too 

 little, the worms are not killed ; if too much, it gives the 

 combs a green color. A little experience vviU soon enable 

 you to judge. If the worms are not killed on the first 

 trial, another dose must be administered. Whether this 

 gas from burning sulphur will destroy "the eggs of the 

 moth, I have not tested sufficiently to decide ; but I do 

 know that it is an effectual quietus for the larvae. 



Much less sulphur will adhere to paper or rags, when it 

 is very hot, than when just above the temperature neces- 

 sary to melt it. This should be considered, also the num- 

 ber of boxes to be treated, size of the barrel used, etc. 



Boxes taken off at the end of warm weather, and ex- 

 posed to cold through the winter, wUl have all the worms 

 as well as eggs destroyed, consequently boxes so exposed 

 may be kept any length of time, if the moth is carefully 

 excluded. 



CHAPTER X 



SWAEMING. 



The subject now before us is one of excithig interest. 

 The prospect of an increase of stocks is sufiicient to engage 

 the attention of the apiarian, even when the phenomenon 

 of swarming w^ould fail to awaken it. But to the natural- 

 ist this season has charms that the indifferent beholder can 

 never realize. 



KNOWLEDGE NBCBSSABY. 



It is important that the practical apiarian, as well as the 

 naturalist, should have a thorough knowledge of this 

 branch of apiculture, and not accept any assertions without 



