SWARMS. ^t 



ing combs prefently after fettling ; and fome* 

 times do on the branch of a tree, if they are 

 fuffered to remain there a confiderable time. 

 When bees play idly about the door or 

 hive, and are more than ordinarily mi£r 

 chievous, it is a fign they are anxious to 

 fwarm ; and probably may rife, though 

 without a princefs, if it is late in the feafon, 

 but will return home again. 



If the wind be brifk at the time of a 

 fwarm's riling, it will fly in the fame direc- 

 tion, and will fettle in that fpot which will 

 beft fhelter them from the inconveniency, 

 regardlefs of their accujlomed place of cluf- 

 tering. 



As none but good fwarms at any time 

 ought to be kept, it will be neceflary to 

 afcertain how fuch may be known. It 

 fhould be in bulk, when hived, not lefs than 

 a p£ck and a half ; in middling fituations 

 they run more. I have had them in Hert- 

 fordihire frequently half a bufhel, fome- 

 times larger. 



Near Pembroke they feldom exceed a- 

 peck ? which is here efleemed a good fwarm. 



How- 



