SWARMING. 47 



boxes, glasses, slides, <fcc, the apiarian should proceed in a man- 

 ner so steady and cautious, that the bees should scarcely know 

 that their habitation had been meddled with ;' in which remarks 

 I fully concur." 



After having a new swarm, you must also recollect, that if 

 unfavorable weather follow their departure, you must feed them, 

 otherwise they will be starved ; indeed it would be well if each 

 new swarm were always fed for a few days, as this will assist 

 them in gaining strength in numbers and in store, before the 

 principal part of the honey season goes over. In conclusion I 

 would merely say, that the weight of a good swarm should be 

 from five to seven pounds, and that all under five pounds in 

 weight should be united to others, as being too weak in numbers 

 to support themselves. 



You shall receive instructions for uniting swarms in the next 

 chapter, as the process is the same as that adopted in depriving 

 a hive of its honey. In hiving a swarm it is as well to be pro- 

 tected with a proper bee dress, as well as to use such precau- 

 tions as you will find detailed in a subsequent chapter when treat- 

 ing of the honey harvest. Prevention is better than cure, and it 

 is better to be sure than sorry ; yet bees are certainly less apt to 

 sting at this time than any other. 



Some persons are particularly unhappy in possessing those 

 qualities which render them disagreeable to bees. The main ob- 

 jections are, excessive timidity, and likewise, with some an un- 

 pleasant odor, in some instances the result of personal negli- 

 gence, but frequently of peculiarity of constitution. The remedies 

 are, a bee-dress for the former, and the use of some strong per- 

 fume which the bees like, and which will effectually conceal 

 whatever is offensive to them. 



" I have gone among them," says Mr. Worlidge, in their 

 greatest anger and madness, only with a handful of sweet herbs 

 in my hand, fanning about my face, as it were to obscure and 

 defend it. Also, if a bee do by accident buzz about you, being 

 unprovided, thrust your face amongst a parcel of boughs or 

 herbs, and he will desert you. But the most secure way of all, 

 and beyond the completest harness yet published, is to have a 

 net knit with so small meshes, that a bee cannot pass through, 

 and of fine thread or silk, large enough to go over your hat, and 

 to lie down to the collar of your dress, through which you may 



