ey's Treatise, would contain 23,000 bees. The manner of hiving
them must be regulated chiefly by the places upon which they alight.

If they settle on a dead hedge, or upon the ground, set a hive over
them, putting props under it if necessary, and, with a large spoon or
brush of wet weeds, stir them softly underneath, and they will go in.

If they should happen to settle upon a small bough, you may cut it off,
and laying it quietly on a cloth, place a hive over them; or if you
cannot conveniently separate the bough from the body of the tree, you
may shake or sweep them off into the hive.

If the sun shines hot upon it, shade it with a few boughs, &c., but let
it remain near the place where the bees settled until the evening, at
which time move it to the bee-house, or the place where it is to stand
during the season, as just directed.

If the bees have hung a considerable time to the place where they first
settled, you will, perhaps, find it difficult entirely to dislodge them,
as they will neglect their labour and fly about the spot for many days
afterwards. The best method to prevent this is, by rubbing the branches
with rue, or any kind of herb disagreeable to the bees; but be careful
not to hurt any of the bees.

Swarms seldom return home again, when they are well settled, and if you
find them inclined to do so, depend upon it, some accident has happened
to their queen, which you will easily ascertain by their making a
murmuring noise, and running in a distracted manner over and about the
sides of the hive. When you observe this, immediately seek about for
her, beginning with the stock-hive from whence the swarm rose, and
pursue the track they took at setting out; you will seldom miss finding
her, for she is never alone, but generally encompassed with a cluster of
bees, who would sooner perish than leave her in danger.

When you have found her, take her up gently, and put her to the swarm,
and you will soon find the cause of their dissatisfaction removed by the
arrival of the queen.

The greatest care must be taken to have your hive clean and sweet, free
from loose straws or other obstacles, which will create great trouble
and loss of time to the bees, if left to them to remove.

If bees have flowers suitable to their tastes, and no great distance
to travel to them, they will fill their hives both with honey and wax,
in about a month or five weeks, and, if the season has proved fair and
pleasant, in less time