SWAEMING. 



IGl 



and the bees cluster outside, sprinkle them with water and 

 drive them in. Wetting the hive occasionally will carry 

 off a large portion of the heat, and make it much more 

 comfortable. 



CL-OSTERINS BUSHES. 



If there are no large trees in the vicinity of your apiary, 

 .all the better ; there will then be no trouble with the 

 swarms lighting out of reach, but all bee-keepers are not 

 so fortunate. In a place where there are no natural con- 

 veniences, it is necessary to provide something for them 

 to cluster on. Get some bushes six or eight feet high — 

 evergreens arc preferable — cut off the ends of the branches 

 except a few near the top, secure the whole with strings, 

 to prevent swaying in ordinary winds, make a hole in the 

 earth deep enough to hold them, and so large that they 

 may be easily lifted out. The bees will be likely to clus- 

 ter on some of these ; they can then be raised out and the 

 swai-m hived without difficulty. A bunch of dry mullen- 

 tops tied together on the end of a pole, makes a very good 

 place for clustering ; it so nearly resembles a swarm that 

 bees themselves appear to be sometimes deceived. I h.ave 

 frequently known them to leave a branch where they had 

 begun to cluster, and settle on this when held near. 



The reasons for immediately removing the swarm to the 

 stand, are, that they are generally more convenient to 

 watch in case they are disposed to leave, and many bees 

 can be saved. All that leave the hive, mark the location 

 the same as in spring. Several hundreds will probably 

 leave the first day, a few, several times. When removed 

 at night to the permanent stand, such will return to the 

 stand of the previous day, and are generally lost, wliereas, 

 if they are reoioved at once, this loss is avoided. 



Those that are left flying at the time, return to the old 

 Btoek, which those that return from the swarm the next 



