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Of the Artificial Swarming of Bees. 169 
Tam always beft pleafed with natural fwarms, 
yet it may be obferved of them, as well as of 
moft other animals, intended for the ufe or. 
benefit of man, that confiderable room is left 
for human art and ingenuity to affift them. 
Thus, for inftance, they are provided by hu- 
man art with much more convenient habita- 
tions, than they could either rear or difcover 
by their own inftinct: For, without our aid, if 
no ruinous houfe or hollow tree were near, a 
young {warm might hang on a bufh, till they 
were either totally deftroyed by wind, or 
drowned by rain. Artificial fwarming, there- 
fore, when a natural {warm (which is always 
-preferable,) cannot be obtained, is fometimes 
a neceflary and ufeful part of bee hufbandry ; 
and will, indeed, turn out ultimately to our 
"own advantage, as will appear from what fol- 
lows. 
Before proceeding farther, however, with 
any directions on this fubje@, it is proper to 
caution the reader, that although artificial 
fwarming is very profitable, when properly 
: performed by an experienced bee-matfter, yet 
it always has been, and ever will be, very de- 
ftructive to bees, if performed by unfkilful 
‘perfons: and, indeed, all riew beginners may 
Y ke 
