93 
e brilliant and diversified livery furnished by liberal _ 
The nectar of flowers, and the transudation of 
afford inexhaustible resources to the diligent bee. 
lagazines are filled. In the pyramidal hive, the bees 
yy only the middle story, and the neuters will soon 
their fabric of combs in the under story. In the 
attish hive, the lower story is by this time generally fur- 
d with combs, where the queen lays her eggs. As 
as the couvain is entirely hatched, in the upper box, 
and nothing remains to be done by the neuters, but to fill 
the cells with honey, and seal them up,—the whole family 
will be stationed in the lower box. 
This is the season, in many countries, when the first 
- swarms come off, and requires the attention of their guar- 
dians, from eight o’clock in the morning, till four in the 
afternoon, if the atmosphere be loaded, or threatened with 
storms. A burning sun, breaking through the clouds, and 
beaming on the hive with its ardent rays, provokes the de- 
parture of the swarm, and it suddenly leaves the hive. A 
new cloud for a moment obscures the sun;—it is a cloud of 
bees, whose balancings and undulations resemble large 
flakes of falling snow, agitated by the air, and vibrating a 
long time before they reach the ground. ‘ 
1 JUNE. 
No particular attention is necessary in this month, ex- 
cept to take care of the swarms which may come off. The 
author recommends the culture of artificial meadows, lu- 
zerne, sainfoin, vetches, rape, &c., as early food for bees, 
and buckwheat for continued and later food. 
It was in the latter part of this month, when the sun 
passed from the sign of gemini into cancer, that I made 
the discovery of restoring hives, whose population had pe- 
_ rished, by hatching the couvain, which still remained in the 
egg state, by the simple effect of the action of the summer 
sun. ; 
PUILY. 
The buckwheat begins to blossom; and the bees collect 
a prodigious booty from its flowers. Abundant swarms 
are produced. The hives fill with combs. The lay of 
the queen is continued; and the labour of the drones, 
fecundating the eggs, is excessive. The upper stories are 
full of combs; the couvain of which, already hatched and 
