CRITERIA OF THE GOODNESS OF A HIVE. 155 



let him stand a few minutes before each hive, and observe 

 the number of bees, which enter loaded with farina, and if an 

 apparently equal number leave the hive in a great hurry and 

 bustle. This circumstance will determine the health of the 

 hive, and the fecundity of the queen. If aloud humming noise 

 be heard in the interior of the hive, it is a certain sign of its 

 strength, and that the inhabitants are in a prosperous state. 



Another criterion of internal health is, when two or three 

 bees are observed at the entrance of the hive, fanning with 

 their wings, as if to diminish the internal heat by the process 

 of ventilation. 



A person should not purchase a hive in the immediate 

 vicinity of his residence, as the bees are apt to return to their 

 former place of abode ; for although no fear need be enter- 

 tained that the bees will ultimately forsake the hive, yet they 

 are obstructed in their labours by a confused recollection of 

 their former habitation, and this proves a great loss to the 

 community. The best criterion, however, of the goodness of 

 a hive is the weight ; but in this point, a very nice discri- 

 mination is necessary between an old and a new hive : the 

 former always contains a great quantity of bee bread, which 

 is the heaviest substance in a hive, and the purchaser will 

 then be deceived, for instead of honey, he has been buying 

 bee bread, independently of being led astray in his opinion 

 concerning the stock of provisions, which the bees may have 

 in store for the winter. A hive in February should not weigh 

 less than twelve or fifteen pounds ; it would be imprudent 

 to purchase a hive of an inferior weight : if purchased in the 

 autumn, the weight should not be less than thirty pounds, 

 one of twenty-five pounds may survive the winter ; but this 

 depends so much on contingencies, and which in general 

 happen nine times out of ten, that without a liberal supply of 

 food, the hive would perish before the ensuing spring. 



The purchase being completed, the next and most im- 

 portant consideration is, the transportation of the hives to 

 ii 2 



