36 
tact with those containing bees, with apertures of 
communication, they occupied the hives as draw- 
ing rooms, during the summer, and prevented 
swarms forming ; but in autumn they all returned 
to the parent hives, having riinde no comb, except 
a small quantity in one of the hives. The prin- 
ciple is a substantial one, that bees will not pros- 
per unless they are furnished with queens, and I 
am not endowed with the gracious prerogative of 
elevating females to thrones.” Let us suppose a 
swarm of bees to be put into a hive of sufficient 
capaciousness to prevent its swarming. At the 
end of five years, allowing the swarm to yield fif- 
ty pounds of surplus honey each year, which is a 
fair estimate, we have two hundred and fifty 
pounds of honey, and one swarm. Now let us 
compare this with our former estimate, allowing 
swarms to issue. In our former estimate, allow- 
ing the bees to swarm, at the end of five years we 
have thirty-two swarms, besides eighteen hundred 
and sixtv pounds of surplus honey ; leaving a 
balance of thirty-one swarms and sixteen hundred 
and ten pounds of surplus honey in favor of 
swarming. 
HIVING SWARMS, AND TRANSFERRING BEES 
FROM ONE IIIVE TO ANOTHER. 
In the season of swarming, constant watchful- 
ness should be kept over the apiary ; if it consist 
of a considerable number of hives, several swarms 
may be expected every fair day. Suitable hives 
should be in readiness to receive the swarms, fur- 
nished with drawers, and perfectly tight and clean 
in every part. Nothing is lost by employing 
good workmen to make your bee-hives ; they 
should be made of good materials, and thoroughly 
