MANAGING EEES. 
85 
it very important that the attention of the 
old stock should not be called off from rath- 
ering honey at this time, to guard their hive 
from the attacks of moths to which it is left 
exposed, by the desertion of that part of their 
body which has accompanied the Queen to 
constitute a new swarm. Hives that arc well 
stocked with bees in the. spring, swarm much 
earlier than feeble ones, and are able to use 
the best of the season to great advantage. 
In speaking of the advantages of a large 
colony, I would not be understood to approve 
of the plan of those persons who so far depart 
from the economy of nature as to raise bees 
in a chamber, or in any way where their col- 
onies will much exceed fifteen or sixteen 
quarts of bees. 
Bees are creatures of habit, and the exer- 
cise of caution in managing them is required. 
A stock of bees should bo placed where they 
arc to stand through the season before they 
form habits of location, which will take place 
soon after they commence their labors in the 
spring. They learn their home by the objects 
surrounding them in the immediate vicinity of 
