Correspondence.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1109, 10 January 1885, Page 3

Correspondence.

BEES. (To the Editor.) Sib,-— Just now all those who have bees (and who has not in the country districts ?) are on the look-out for fresh swarms every day. I would like to ask, through tha medium of your paper, a, few questions concerning these little creatures, which will, perhaps, be of use to others besides myself. First, I notice that some who .have kept a few hives from last year have got two or three warms from each in some cases.

Again, others who kept a larger number of hires hare not got so many new swarms in proportion. I know son o who have kept one hive from last year who have got three new swarms this jear ; others, who have kept five, have got as many as seventeen f reßh ones ; and others who kept six have only got five new swarms. Can anyone tell me the cause of these difference*, seeing that the bees are all in (he same district, and only a few .yards apart in some cases ? When a swarm ia on the wing, what is the best method of making them settle ? Generally, when the bees are seen by the owner, a great noise is made by beating old tins, which, I understand, U meant to represent thunder, as bees do not like thunder, for they cannot live in r.iin. Again, I have seen people using a lookingglass to rcfbct the sun's rajs among Ihe beep, to represent lightning. Are, then, tin arc! looking-glasses of any use? Why is it that some Bwarms fly awuy immediately after lo.iting the hiv?, while othprs sei. lo qivte near ? Sometimes after a hive has been in a box for some time and marie a good deal of wax, it will leave the box. Hour ja this? How many times will a hive swarm in a season, and is there any way of telling the night beFore if they will come iff next day ? One person infoims me that they make a peculiar noise before swarming. Has this been noticed by any of your readers ? — I am, &c, Notice.