THE BEE. 
303 
ft new queen for it. If the queen be not there, then repeat the process 
with the prepared hive, and so you will catch her at last. You can then 
return the first batch of bees that were removed either to the parent 
hive or to the prepared hive, by simply shaking them into the one which 
most needs them. 
Old hives thus deprived of their queens, and made to rear new ones, 
involve another important advantage. In twenty-one days the entire 
brood will be reared, no fresh brood having been deposited (through the 
absence of an old queen), and the young queen not having begun to lay, 
which they do in about ten days after they leave the cell. Here, then, 
where the hives are heavy, say forty or more pounds in weight, is an oppor- 
tunity of removing the bees (by fumigation) into a new hive, and selling 
the contents of the old one. The honey is thus earlier than usual in the 
market, and fetches a higher price. Weak swarms should invariably be 
joined either to strong ones, or to each other, and as soon as possible 
after swarming. It is only a strong community that can so successfully 
establish themselves before winter, as to be in no danger from its severity. 
This junction may be performed by fumigation, and taking away one 
of the queens. A stock without a queen may by the same means be 
added to one that is more fortunate : and this applies even to the 
restoration of a swarm to its own parent hive if there be ample room 
in it. 
We have said nothing of the plan of annually destroying the bees, 
for it is almost an insult to our readers to suppose they would approve 
of so senseless and unprofitable as well as cruel a practice. It is quite 
true that thus all the honey that is made in a season may be obtained 
at once, just in the same way that all the golden eggs of the goose in 
the fable were to be obtained at once. And if this wholesale deprivation 
be desired, it is perfectly obtainable without destroying the bees, by 
simply fumigating them, and removing them to another hive. And 
if you don’t choose to feed the bees during the winter, let somebody else 
have them that will. It is possible, in a favorable late season, they may 
not need any assistance. At all events, let it be the golden maxim 
of bee management never to allow a single bee to be injured if yon can 
help it. 
We close our article upon bees with the quaint story of an o d English 
apiarian. — “ In or about the year 1717, one of my swarms settling among 
the close-twisted branches of some codling-trees, and not to be got into 
an hive without more help, my maid-servant, hired into the family the 
Michaelmas before, being in the garden, very officiously offered her 
assistance, so far as to hold the hive while I dislodged the bees, she being 
little apprehensive of what followed. 
“ Having never been acquainted with bees, and likewise afraid, she 
put a linen cloth over her head and shoulders, concluding that would 
be a sufficient guard, and secure her from their swords. A few of the 
bees fell into the hive ; some upon the ground ; but the main body of 
them upon the cloth which covered her upper garments. 
“ No sooner had I taken the hive out of her hands, but in a terrible 
fright and surprise, she cried out the bees were got under the covering, 
crowding up towards her breast and face, which immediately put her 
