46 THE HIVE AND THE HONEY-BEE. 



date. It has been proved from observation, that the average per 

 centage of swarms have been — twenty-four in May, sixty in June, 

 fourteen in July, and two in August ; from which it will appear 

 that June is the principal month for swarming, in ordinary sea- 

 sons ; and it is in June and July that the greatest quantities of 

 honey are stored up by the bees, when managed in a judicious 

 manner. 



" When the swarming is assisted and encouraged during June 

 and July, the old stocks are considerably weakened, and the 

 swarms are employed in building combs in their new hives, col- 

 lecting pollen, and attending to the young brood, until the best 

 part of the honey-storing season is over ; so that, at the honey 

 harvest in autumn, it will frequently require the contents of five 

 or six old stocks, or late swarms, to produce as much pure honey 

 as might have been obtained from one colony on the system of 

 management which is recommended." 



In collateral boxes, and in capped hives, swarming may be 

 prevented by affording the bees additional accommodation, and 

 reducing the temperature ; and for this end, it is recommended, 

 by most apiarians, that the hive or box should be furnished with 

 a thermometer as well as ventilator. I think, however, that 

 even those who do not possess these accommodations may man- 

 age well enough by proper observation and attention to the 

 symptoms I have detailed. When these appear in a collateral 

 box- hive, open one of the partitions, and admit the bees into a 

 new apartment ; if all be full, take off a box, empty and restore 

 it. In the case of a capped hive, remove the bung, and admit 

 the bees to the cap ; if full, remove, empty, and restore it. On 

 this subject, Mr. Briggs says : — " The most favorable degrees of 

 heat for the prosperity of the brood are from 75° to 90° in the 

 stock hive, and from 65° to 75° in the side boxes. The heat in 

 a prosperous hive is sometimes upwards of 70° at Christmas, and 

 will, in hot summer weather, sometimes rise to near 120°, at 

 which time the combs are in great danger of being damaged, 

 and of falling to the floor of the hive ; this may, however, be 

 prevented, by giving extra room when required, and by shading 

 the hives from extreme heat as previously directed. It should 

 always be borne in mind that all operations with bees should be 

 performed as carefully and as speedily as circumstances will per- 

 mit.' The late Mr. T. Nutt remarked, in a conversation with 

 him a few months previous to his decease, ' that in removing 



