bee-keeper's calendar. 461 



Northern and Middle States. As bees keep up a high tem- 

 perature in their hives, they are by no means so dependent 

 upon the weather, for forwardness, as plants, and most other 

 insects necessarily are. I have had as early swarms in 

 Northern Massachusetts, as in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 

 If bees do not swarm very soon after the fruit trees are in 

 blossom, it is desirable to have them defer it, until later sup- 

 plies furnish them with abundant forage. They seldom 

 swarm if honey is not so abundant that they can gather 

 more than they need for immediate consumption. Artificial 

 colonies, therefore, should not be made, except at soch sea- 

 sons, unless the Apiarian expects to feed them. 



In the Chapter on Artificial Swarming, I forgot to say that 

 the bees may be driven up into the top box of my hive, by 

 removing the honey-board, blowing smoke into the entrance* 

 and drumming upon the outside of the hive. Inexperiencedl 

 Apiarians may prefer this to opening the hive and lifting out 

 the combs. I can easily stupify bees by fumigating them 

 with pufT-ball, or by pouring into their hive a little chloroform 

 or ether, but it is far more troublesome to manage them in 

 this way, than with the smoke of punk. 



If the bee-keeper relies upon natural swarming, his Apiary, 

 if not in full sight and sound, should be carefully watched. 

 If this cannot be done, he should, after a short absence, 

 carefully examine the neighboring bushes and trees, on some 

 of which he will often find a swarm clustered, preparatory 

 to their departure for a new home. As it may often be im- 

 portant to know from which hive the swarm has issued, after 

 it has been hived and removed to its new stand, let a cup full 

 of bees be taken from it and thrown into the air, near the 

 Apiary ; they will soon return to the parent stock, and may 

 easily be recognized, by their standing at the entrance and 

 fanning, like ventilating bees; Where the hives have glass 

 39* 



