ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 167 



hardly be considered too high, if all who keep bees are 

 taken into account. While some bee-keepers are so careful 

 that they seldom lose a swarm, the majority, either from the 

 grossest negligence, or from necessary hindrances during 

 the swarming season, are constantly incurring serious losses, 

 by the flight of their bees to the woods. It is next to impos- 

 sible, entirely to prevent such occurrences, if bees are allow- 

 ed to swarm at all. 



2. The great amount of time and labor required by natu- 

 ral swarming, has always been regarded as a decided objec- 

 tion to this mode of increase. 



As soon as the swarming season begins, the Apiary must 

 be closely watched almost every day, or some of the new 

 swarms will be lost. If this business is entrusted to thought- 

 less children, or careless adults, many swarms will be lost 

 by their neglect. It is very evident that but few persons 

 who keep bees, can always be on hand to watch them and 

 to hive the new swarms. But, in the height of the swarm- 

 ing season, if any considerable number of colonies is kept, 

 the Apiarian, to guard against serious losses, should either 

 be always on the spot himself, or have some one who can be 

 entrusted with the care of his bees. Even the Sabbath can- 

 not be observed as a day of rest ; and often, instead of being 

 able to go to the House of God, the bee-keeper is compelled 

 to labor among his bees, as hard as on other days, or even 

 harder. That he is as justifiable in hiving his bees on the 

 Sabbath, as in taking care of his slock, can admit of no seri- 

 ous doubt ; but the very liability of being called to do so, is 

 with many, a sufficient objection against Apiarian pursuits. 



The merchant, mechanic and professional man, are often 

 so situated that they would take great interest in bees, if 

 the5'' were not deterred from their cultivation by inability to 

 take care of them, during the swarming season ; and they 



