bee-keeper's manual. 261 



combat ; if it were not so, many families of bees would 

 be liable to perish. 



The season of swarming is a season of peculiar inte- 

 rest to the apiarian. It is at this season, that he looks 

 for a reward of his labors, in the increase of his families 

 of bees. Aside from the profit accruing from an in- 

 crease of families, there is an interest — I may, perhaps, 

 say a charm, attending the issue of a large swarm of 

 bees, to the apiarian who takes a deep interest in the 

 domestic economy of this insect. 



When the cry of " hees swarming," reaches one's ear, 

 he drops all and runs to the scene. If he be at the well 

 with a bucket of water half way to the top, perhaps, 

 down it goes, with many a hard thump against the stony 

 sides, and away he goes. If he be in the field at the 

 plow, he stops his team when the sound strikes his ear, 

 throws down his whip and is off. When he arrives at 

 the scene, he beholds the heavens darkened with a re- 

 volving mass of bees, and thousands still rushing from 

 the hive ! Mark the slow and beautifully-undulating 

 circles described, as the bees hover around the apiary, 

 in order to give time for all to join the swarm ! Now, 

 a portion of the living cloud quickly and thickly revolve 

 around yon slender branch, where a few bees are al- 

 ready clustered ! Now the whole mass, as by magic, 

 draw closely around, and settle thick and fast. The far- 

 extended cloud that but a moment before seemed to 

 cover the area of an acre, now, by some mysterious 

 command, whirl in the space of a few feet, preparatory 

 to clustering in a solid mass! Now all are clustered 



