MANAGEMENT OF HONEY BEES. 95 
in the life and operations of these extraordi- 
nary insects, and affords, perhaps, fully as 
much gratification as any other part of their 
proceedings. By the mere practical Bee- 
master, who looks almost exclusively to the 
return of profit arising from their culture, 
the honey harvest will of course be regarded 
as the period of most interest. But by the 
naturalist, the season of swarwing, by bring- 
ing into view some of the most striking fea- 
tures of their marvellous instincts, and thus 
affording additional scope for his favorite 
studies, will ever be hailed with the most in- 
tense delight, 
I have already observed, that the breeding 
season commences about the end of January, 
or early in February, unless the temperature 
be unusually severe, and continues with 
constantly increasing progress and activity 
throughout the summer. The addition thus 
made to the population is almost incredible. 
At the beginning of the year a hive which, 
in the preceding October, contained no less 
than 12,000 15,000 or 20,000 inhabitants, 
