THE farmer’s manual. 
187 
seek for a new habitation. A swarm, therefore, is 
nothing more than a colony of Bees which are for- 
saking their native home in quest of another place of 
residence. This change of abode now becomes ne- 
cessary from their obedience to nature’s law, increast 
and multiply, and is absolutely necessary to the pre- 
servation and support of the whole, as well as the ge- 
neral principle of increase. One of the fundamen- 
tal principles amongst Bees is, that tlie small hives 
(all other things being equal) generally swarm, one, 
two, or three days sooner than the large ones ; 1st, 
from the want of room ; 2d, from their increased 
heat in bringing forward their eggs. The time in 
which Bees swarm differs in ail countries. Mr. Men- 
tille says, they swarm in the Isle of Cuba throughout 
the year, and Don Ulloa says, they cast their swarms 
every month, and sometimes double. In Europe, 
generally, as in America, they cast their swarms in 
the spring and summerj according to the state of the 
season ; the warmer^he climate or weather, the ear- 
lier they swarm. 
As soon as a young queen has emerged from her 
nymphal state, she hetiomes capable ot laying eggs, 
this is never done in the mother hive, but always in 
a new habitation. The Bees rally around their 
queen, and conduct, or follow her to some secure re- 
treat, where she may' deposit her eggs to lay the 
foundation of a new swarm. This retreat being se- 
cured, she deposits her eggs as before stated, and 
thus lays the foundation for a new swarm the next 
spring. Several important things are now necessary 
to be understood, and carefully attended to, as the 
sure signs of their being about to swarm. 1st, An 
extraordinary number of Bees which hang in clus- 
ters about the hives. 2d, An apparent idleness 
Biinongst the Bees. 3d, A particular noise of chip, 
chip, made by the young queen, two or three nights 
before they swarm. 4th, An unusual bustle amongst 
the drones. 6th, A sudden silence succeeding a vio- 
