290 MINEb's AMERICAN 



liable to be placed in the same unenviable predica- 

 ment. 



The queen, as I before stated, is sometimes quite 

 heavy and unable to fly, and it may happen that in case 

 of not meeting a proper shrub or branch to alight on, 

 she will perch on the first thing that may come in her 

 vpay ; and if she alight on any part of the person in at- 

 tendance, the whole swarm will follow so speedily, that 

 there is no help — no evading it. All that one has to do 

 is, to stand still, and bear it like a philosopher, not at- 

 tempt to run away, as poor Sambo did. There is not 

 the least danger in such a case, if one will only be quiet. 

 It will call forth all the presence of mind that he is pos- 

 sessed of, without doubt. In such a case, another per- 

 son should bring a hive and hold it over the bees, resting 

 it in some manner that will give facility for them to 

 enter, and in a few minutes, they will all take to the 

 hive. 



sambo's first trial at hiving. 



When I commenced keeping bees, I was as green in 

 the business as the most ignorant. I gave directions to 

 my servant to dress the hive with salt and water, having 

 heard that this was good. When I returned at evening, 

 (I resided on Long Island, and came to New York 

 daily,) he informed me that a large swarm had issued, 

 and he hived it, and in a few minutes they rushed out, 

 and that was the last he saw of them. I turned up the 

 hive, and behold! he had rubbed salt enough on the 

 sides of it, to pickle a pig. There was no wonder why 



