NATURAL SWARMINli. 18C 



CHAPTER XIII. 



NATURAL SWARMING. 



The swarming season, when bees are in a flourish- 

 ing condition, as they invariably should be, having 

 obtained sufficient food, either naturally or artificially 

 to make them so, is one of great excitement and of 

 peculiar interest to the bee-keepers, both naturally 

 and pecuniarily. 



Now that the mode of propagating and increasing 

 bees rapidly by division, or by making artificial 

 swarms in the manner heretofore described, is be- 

 coming so well understood, and I have no doubt will 

 be generally practiced by all who cultivate bees 

 either for pleasure or profit, as by this means they 

 can secure an increase of stocks in such numbers 

 and at such times as may best suit them, by exercis- 

 ing proper judgment and taking due care to feed 

 when a scarcity of honey occurs ; I conclude that 

 this mode will very materially lessen the interest of 

 natural swarming. 



The habits and instincts of the honey bee, their 

 peculiar wants and requirements, are becoming so 

 well known, dispelling the mystery and superstition 

 that has been so closely associated with and obscured 

 bees and bee-keeping for so many ages past, that as 

 the morning sun dispels the mist and fogs of the 

 valley, thus ere long will it be freed from these 

 deleterious influences, and stand forth as the noblest 

 of the insect creation, silently teaching mankind 

 16* 



