123 HOW TO PROCURE BEES. 



from hives that have swarmed the year before, as sucii will have 

 vigorous queens but one year old. "We could not advise the 

 purchase of second swarms at the time of their issue, unless 

 early and of fair size, for except in good seasons, many fail to 

 secure sufficient stores for winter. 



In purchasing bees care must be taken in removing them home. It 

 should be only early in the morning or late in the evening if warm, else 

 many active workers will be lost. A new swarm having tender comb 

 filled with honey should not be moved, for such comb will be apt to 

 break down. 



By Taking Bees on Shares. 

 Bees are sometimes taken on shares for a term of years, the 

 person taking them finding hives and getting half the increase 

 and honey, or more, when transferred into movable-comb hives 

 and Italianized. 



By Capturing Fugitive Swarms. 

 "We once bought twenty stocks, at five dollars each, of a man 

 who got his start by finding a swarm hanging to a bush. Fugi- 

 tive swarms may often be brought down by throwing dirt among 

 the advance guards, or by getting in the proper position and 

 reflecting the rays of the sun upon them from a looking-glass. 



By a Safe Increase of Stocks. 



After a few stocks have been obtained, by any of the forego- 

 ing methods, by far the cheapest way to stock an apiary, is to 

 increase the number of stocks by nucleus swarming, and obtain- 

 ing bees gratis of neighbors, by taking up their condemned 



