“Isn’t it rather late in the season to start bees?” asked Natalie.
“Not too late to secure a hive of some one else’s bees. What difference does it make whether the bees are with us or with some one else?” said Janet.
“I don’t know exactly, but I’ve heard that bees hate to be moved about,” returned Natalie.
Then Mrs. James explained: “Bees are very sensitive to environment. And a careful bee-farmer will not move his hives to any strange locality after the inmates are accustomed to certain familiar surroundings. If he has to do any moving he manages to do it in winter, or when the bees swarm.”
“I’ve seen a colony of bees disintegrate and leave home to become tramp-bees, or join other colonies—although the latter act is not common or popular with bees. They are very conservative and seldom associate with bees of other colonies,” added Miss Mason.
“Then how would it be possible for us to get the bees?” asked Norma.
“We would have to secure a swarm which has not yet been accustomed to an environment, but one which will accept a new home without wandering away looking for the old hive,” said Mrs. James.
“Yes, that is what I was going to suggest—that we find a new swarm, nearby, and bring it to the farm to live,” added Miss Mason.
“Mrs. Tompkins has bees and they just love her flower-garden,” said Norma.
“Maybe Mrs. Tompkins can tell us if she expects a new swarm very shortly. Or she may know of a farmer who has just hived a swarm,” suggested Natalie, eagerly.