Of thé Swarming and Hiving of Bees. Tit 
‘From hence it is eafy to compute the number of Bees 
ina fwarm, of four or five pounds in weight, viz, eight 
thoufand, or upwards; proportionable to which would 
be an hive of fuch an extent, 
‘Your hives thus at hand, you may drefs them agreea- 
ble to your own fancy. I rub mine only with a fmall 
handful of fennel, dipped in a little ale fweetened with fu- 
gar; fometimes with nothing at all, except it be a new 
hive. | 
~Tt is a common practice with moft to place fticks in’ 
the hives, the better, as they fuppofe, to faften the 
combs. But if your hives are of a right form, and nar- 
rower at the mouth than the middle, I fee not any the 
leaft occafion for fuch a precaution. The Bees will 
themfelves effectually fecure the combs from falling. 
Befides, you will gain this advantage by this means, 
?. e. taking out the combs full of honey, in a manner 
entire, and not. broke in pieces. 
The two principal. fwarming months are very well 
known to be May and Fune. As to the hour of the day 
it is not. certain ; I have known them to rife near eight 
in the morning, and after four in the afternoon; but 
moft generally between eleven, and one or two, It 
might not be amifs to have a watchful eye upon them 
a good part of the day. And now be fure to give them 
door-room enough, opening the whole paflage for them, 
tho’ it be a week or ten days. before the {warm comes. 
As foon as, your fwarm is fettled; ‘hive them to pre- 
vent any other joining with them, The method of hi- 
ving them, you will learn from their place and manner 
of 
Vee. 
