286 
DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 
is no profit in it. No man gets the quantity of honey which he feeds. 
2. It prevents the bees from going abroad to gather honey from the 
fields. 3. If the bees are fed liberally late in the fall and early in the 
spring, there will be very few empty cells in which to rear young bees. 
4. It is deceptive, because a cheap and inferior article is sold for one of 
superior quality. 5. It results, in the process of time, in the extinction 
of the bees. The feeding of the bees may be practiced with advantage 
whenever they are not amply supplied with winter stores, a thing which 
happens to late swarms and to those from which large quantities of 
honey have been taken. For this purpose a cheap article may be used 
to help them through the winter. It may be desirable to take from 
the bees all the white clover honey which can be obtained in boxes with 
a view to supply the bees with a cheaper article.” 
Daily Examination of the hives for the removal of all filth tends to 
domesticate the bees, and if done gently the effect is to so accustom 
them to their keeper that he can handle them with perfect impunity. 
The Position of the Bee-House should be free from exposure to the north 
and west winds, and from the morning sun. A southwest exposure is 
recommended by the best authorities. 
SUMMER MANAGEMENT— Preparations for Swarms.— Every thing ne- 
cessary should now be prepared for the establishment of swarms, which 
may be expected during the next two months, else there may be running 
hither and thither, while the swarm takes wing and is lost through your 
delayed preparation. Hives, or boxes if you intend to make use of 
these, must be kept dry and sweet ; stands or stools to place them on 
must be prepared, and a hand-brush, leather gloves, crape, or other 
covering for the face, placed in readiness. 
As bees require water to drink, especially through this and the next 
month, it is necessary to place some for them, if there is no pond or 
rivulet near. Cotton says that, in the Isle of Wight, the people have a 
notion that every bee goes down to the sea to drink once a day. Water 
is needful for them in the breeding season, and they will drink water 
with salt in it, and like it better than the freshest brook that runs. It 
is very curious to see how they will flock by thousands to the drink- 
ing-troughs in April, May, and part of June ; and then their thirst seems 
to be quenched all of a sudden, for not one will be seen at them. The 
reason seems to be that they do not want so much water after the 
greater part of the young brood is hatched. 
Shallow dishes or plates filled with water, and having thin boards, 
pierced with small holes, floating on it, from which the bees may drink 
without fear of drowning, are convenient. Small pebbles or moss, 
placed in the plates with the water, will answer almost as well. 
The hives, if old, should be scalded to destroy the larvae of insects. 
If new, the only preparation is to wet the inside with salt and water, 
sweetened with either honey, molasses, or sugar. 
Indications of Swarming. — The most certain indications of swarming 
are, the hive appearing full of bees — clusters of them gathering on the 
outside, and sometimes hanging from the alighting-board ; they also 
neglect their daily toil and refrain from going abroad in search of sweets, 
even though the weather be ever so inviting. Just before they take 
