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together, and the inconvenience to which the proprie- 
tors are liable, who do not form artificial swarms, are 
consequently many. First, they are obliged to watch the 
departure of swarms very assiduously for six weeks, 
sometimes much longer. Whatever attention may be 
paid by persons entrusted with this care, many swarms 
fly away, which it is impossible to arrest. 
“ It has been calculated by a great bee-keeper that a 
fourth part of the best swarms are usually lost in this 
manner. Secondly : He who has a small number of 
hives, is obliged to watch them with the same assiduity 
as if he has more ; and he who has a greater number is 
often much embarrassed, because it is no unusual thing 
to see several swarms go off at the same instant ; some 
escape on one side and some on another, or unite them- 
selves together. Thirdly : A cold and rainy time, 
which may, and often does happen at the moment when 
swarms are disposed to come forth, often prevents the 
bees from swarming. 
“And further, swarms may issue at times when one 
wishes to be otherwise engaged ; and on the other hand, 
although the proprietor may be present, his swarms may 
choose to settle on places where it is difficult to hive 
them. 
“Now, it is easy to imagine, and still worse to ex- 
perience, some of these difficulties. If swarms always 
issued regularly, all would be well, and it would be tin- 
