CHAPTER NI. 
SYMPTOMS PRIOR TO SWARMING. 4 
Cuusterine on the outside of the hive is generally considered a 
symptom of swarming; though, taken singly, it cannot be regarded 
as a very sure sign that a swarm will issue immediately; this, how- 
ever, indicates that there are a sufficient quantity of bees to admit of 
a swarm’s issuing; and if attended with other symptoms, may be con- 
sidered as a pretty sure indication that a swarm will soon be thrown 
off. On the day, or day before swarming, the bees are generally less 
active, and are not seen gathering honey and farina, as usual; and 
those that return from the fields loaded with farina, donot immediate- 
ly enter the hive, as is their usual practice, but cluster outside with 
their loads, ready to emigrate at a moment’s warning. Large num- 
bers may also be seen sporting in the air, about the hive, during the 
middle of the day, or from eleven to twelve o’clock; also when drones 
are seen in the crowd outside of the hive, this may be considered as 
additional evidence—as a preparation on the part of the bees for emi- 
grating soon. Yet, with all these symptoms combined, bees will 
not unfrequently cluster in great numbers, for several weeks in suc- 
cession, and not swarm at all; for if preparation for raising a young 
sovereign has not been made, no inducement whatever will persuade 
them to emigrate. I have known ofan instance where a colony have 
gone so far in making preparations for swarming, as to select a tene- 
ment in a hollow tree, and labored for several weeks in clearing it 
out, and finally did not swarm that season ; but, on the ensuing spring, 
about the tenth of May, they again were seen busily engaged in the 
‘same tree, making preparations, and in the latter part of the month a 
swarm, was thrown off, when they proceeded directly to the tree, 
and entered it, notwithstanding water and dirt were thrown on them, 
and every effort made to prevent them from leaving the apiary. 
About the first of May, in the spring of 1851, I sold a gentleman 
one of my hives, for which I was to receive in pay two stocks of bees, 
jn the old common square hive. The agreement was, that out of hig 
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