156 SWARMING AND HIVING. 



unexpected treasures in a hive, that they will seldom desert 

 it. A new swarm has been known to take possession of an 

 old hive without any occupants, but well stored with comb. 

 Though dozens of empty hives may be in the Apiary, they 

 very seldom, unless under such circumstances, enter a hive, 

 of their own accord. It might seem as though an instinct 

 impelling them to do so, would have been a most admirable 

 one, and so doubtless, it may seem to some that it would 

 have been much better, if the earth had brought forth spon- 

 taneously all things requisite for the support of man and 

 beast, without any necessity for ihe sweat of the brow. 

 „^ The first and last frames in my hive, are placed three- 

 eighths of an inch from the ends, and the others just five- 

 eighths of an'ioch apart. When the tops of my frames are 

 an inch wide, they are placed only half an inch apart. 

 When first put in, the rabbets on which they rest should be 

 smeared with flour paste, to keep them in their places, until 

 they are fastened with propolis, by the bees. The rubbing 

 of hives with various kinds of herbs or washes, has always 

 seemed to me, useless, and often positively injurious. There 

 ought always to be some small trees near the hives, on which 

 the swarms can cluster, and from which they can be easily 

 gathered. If there are none, limbs of trees about six feet 

 high, (evergreens are best,) may be fastened into the ground, 

 a few rods in front of the hives, and will answer a very 

 good temporary purpose. It will inspire the inexperienced 

 Apiarian with much greater confidence, to remember that 

 almost all the bees in a swarm, have filled themselves with 

 honey, before leaving the parent stock, and are therefore in 

 a very peaceable mood. If he is at all timid, or liable, as 

 some are, to suffer severely from the sting of a single bee, 

 he should, by all means, furnish himself with the protection 

 of a bee-dress. (See Bee-Dress.) 



