Swarming

When hot weather comes on, a thriving hive will begin to "hang out," as it is called; that is, the bees gather in clusters on the outside of the hive. After this a swarm may be looked for at any favorable time. The bees are not apt to come out when the wind blows hard or in cloudy weather. Between 9 a. m. and 3 p. m. is the usual time. Bees have many singular freaks, not always the same, but varying in their ways. Sometimes they will alight on the highest limbs of a tree. Two years ago several swarms all alighted on currant bushes; then they are harder to hive, because they have to be gathered with a large wing or brush broom on a dust pan and then emptied into the hive. A medium sized cherry or apple tree is the most convenient, where the swarm may be reached with a stepladder. When put on their stands in the spring the bees should be placed with a view to some near and convenient tree, where they will naturally cluster. Some have had good resulta by planting a mullein stalk with its black top resembling somewhat a swarm of bees lighted together, and bees have considerately used these. Sometimes bees are notional about the hive in which they are put, and will soon vacate it. If they are contented with their quarters they will at once go to work cleaning out the hive if it seems to them to need it. Last year a hive carne off and did not appear to take kindly to the hive, and scattered through the air as if demoralized. The queen was found, having fallen" in the grass. One of her wings was clipped as an experiment, and she was returned to the hive; but as she seemed restless the beekeeper made a little cage of wire netting, put the queen inside and hnng the cage in the top of the hive on one of the cross pieces. In five minutes every bee belonging to the swarm gathered in the hive and madeno further movement toward running away. A week or so afterward the top was taken off to see the result, and the bees were making coinbs as if nothing had happened and had made a little alley up to the queen's cage by which they could get to the queen and feed her through the wires or rather between them. In the course ef a month the queen was liberated and all went well with them afterward. Watching for young swarms becomes very monotonous when they are tardy about making their appearance, unless some one of the family bas the time to give to it. If well attended to bees will doublé and often more, too, in numbers in the same season, besides supplying the table with one of the greatest luxuries, nnadulterated honey. On a hot day before bees are shaken into a hive it ought to be well wet on the inside with cold water and a little salt or sugar dissolved in the water.