The San Francisco call., 1910-02-05


something besides the swarm. Instant
~ she began to descend the ladder
nal way down she stopped and called
Ma, you just fetch me a cloth
There's thrush's nest up here right
alongside of the bees, and there's n
family of little ones in it, T aim got
any notion to perch up here and see
'em stung to death"
towel soon rooted over the thrush's
nest nest much to the resentment of the
little nedglings and the dismay of the
elder birds, who were circling about
among the bees, uttering most alarming
cries.
Now for the capture of the bees
The canvas bag was so built that it
could be opened wide at the mouth and
pushed up slowly from below until it
entirely encompassed the swarm. then
the mouth could be partly closed by the
dexterous hand of Rosa and the branch
shaken violently. At once the great
bunch of bees We're gathered down in
the body of the bag from which came
an 1nturiated noise of insects whose
good purpose in life had been diverted
nose that escaped backened the air
ABOUT the girls head, apparently furi-
Gus at her for having. upset their do
mestlc ARRANGEMENT; but with nerfect
unconeern she balanced the closed hal
over her shoulder by the wooden
handles. came down the ladder and
knelt on the ground by her mother near
hive; the bag was. opened; bewil-
dered bees were thoroughly smoked
70 deaden their energies, and then they
were showed into the open hive Tn the
meantime, as the queen bee still ad
hered to the branch, small new swarm
made up of remnants of adorers was
collecting about her, and again Rosa.
pag IN hand' mounted to battle. This
operation was repeated three times.
each time Rosa returning to tho hive
her bag buzzing with living, indig-
nant prisoners. The last lot, like the
first, were smoked and spilled into the
hlVes where at last the queen was
forced to settle.
After the work was over .aR osa lifted
the ladder easily to her shoulder. re-
turned 1t to its owner and faded away
into the recesses of the lilacs where
the farm house stood. The mother.
weary and warm, turned with a sug-
gest1on of at last having something 10
say worth mentioning.
Don't never keep the peslxy things"
she said irritably, they're worse'n chill
dren. One hive swarmed seven times
last year. l used to get dizzy trying to
keep track Of EN-
Are they worth it?"
Well, they are and they aren't. Now.
once l got 1900 pounds of money out
of 1S hives and the next year only 500.
Bees are somsthing like folks. You
can't count on them"
How many queens are there to a
hive7"
"One, OF course. She murders the
new ones. unless there's too many for
her. Then the workers won't let her
touch them. But when they hatch out
she's got to get away, and usually the
old hive goes with her"
Poor old grill"
you're right, there's not much fun
In 1t for her Her only outing is when
she's ousted from the hive. That's
when she goes on her honeymoon, and
she starts off alone, mind you. 1 reckon
she's the only creature that ever starts
on her wedding trip alone. She meets
her mate In the air and hustles back
10 minutes afterwerd unless she's COB
bled up by u Bird Most folks never
seen her start or longs they live, but
! seen her twice. Once back, she takes
TO laying eggs thousands of 'em day
Pretty hard work being that sort of a
queen. New York sun.