U FIFTY YBABS AMONG TtiB BfelS^ 



June 25 I visited Marengo again, and was surprised to find 

 very little gain in the strength of the colonies. The season had 

 been extremely unpropitious. July 7 I made another visit, of 

 three days, and found scarcely any honey in the hives. I made 

 a few new colonies, and by giving empty combs and plenty of 

 room I left them feeling that there was little fear of any 

 swarming for that season. , 



TROUBLE WITH SWARMING.' 



But a sudden change must have come over the bees and the 

 season, and the bees must have built up with great rapidity, for 

 letters kept coming to me saying that the bees had swarmed, 

 and Mrs. Miller was kept busy superintending the hiving, 

 "Jeff" doing the work. It was a mixed-up business for them, 

 for I had left the queens clipped, and swarms would issue 

 only to return again, and then in a few days there would be 

 after-swarms, and they didn't know which swarms were likely 

 to have young queens, and which clipped queens. Some swarms 

 probably got away, but in the round-up when I went out again, 

 August 10, I found the whole number of colonies had reached 

 40, there having been an increase of 12 by natural swarming in 

 addition to the nine colonies I had formed artificially. 



BACK TO COUNTRY LIFE. 



I 



Clearly, keeping bees at long range was a very unsatisfac- 

 tory busuiess. City life was also unsatisfactory; a traveling 

 life was worse. So in spite of the reduced chance of making 

 money, I decided for a life in the country, turned my back 

 upon an offer of $2,500 and expenses, and engaged to teach 

 school at $1200 and bear my own expenses; all because I 

 wanted to be in the country and have a chance to be with the 

 bees all the time. I have never regretted the choice. If I had 

 kept on at other business, I would have, no doubt, made more 

 money, but I would not have had so good a time, and I doubt 

 if I would be alive now. It's something to be alive, and it's a 

 good deal more to have a happy life. 



I did not, however, get away from the city till August 12, 

 1876, but that was early enougli to see that all colonies were 



