MANAGEMENT OF BEES 
19 
and harsh movements on such occasions are very 
offensive to them. They are easily enraged by strik- 
ing or blowing them, and they will he very sure to 
show becoming resentment. They should be treated 
with great respect always, but especially on such occa- 
sions. 
I suppose that not one swarm out of a hundred 
know where they are going when they sally forth from 
their Hives ; and for this reason they should be hived 
as soon as they gather in a cluster, to prevent their 
sending off an embusssy to seek a tenement. If this 
is done, they will never fly to the woods, admitting they 
have sufficient room, and the Hive is free from every 
thing offensive to them. 
Bees sometimes go directly to the woods when they 
sally forth from the Hive. This seldom occurs, and 
when it does, it arises from one of the two following 
causes : 
First: A colony may be ready to come (brth. and 
be detained several days in the Hive by unfavorable 
weather ; or they may come out and be driven back 
by wind or rain. At length the Queen sends off an 
embassy, and the first favorable opportunity they come 
forth, and follow the guides, who have already been 
thither, to some hollow tree in the forest, and take 
possession of it as their future home. Some have sup- 
posed that the Queen takes the lead in this journey, 
but this is a mistake. She remains at home until she 
comes forth with all her adhering subjects about her. 
It is an old whim that yon must rattle bells and blow 
horns to prevent their hearing the calls of the Queen. 
This only seiwes to drive them away. There are many 
superstitious notions, such as a man must not sell his 
bees, because he will sell bis luck. A man might as 
well say it would bo selling his good luck to sell his 
sheep or cattle. 
Second: Sometimes swarms come forth and fly 
about for some time, contending with a heavy wind, 
and at length settle on an adjoining Hive that are about 
sending forth o colony. This causes great confusion 
throughout the Hive, and sometimes they will come off 
