Timely Swarms Old country sayings, though often completely unscientific, are
generally founded on experience and endorse wisdom. They may nevertheless be quite upset by the advance of science. In this class is the doggerel about the value of a swarm of bees. It is quite wrong to suppose, according to some bee masters, that a swarm in May, alleged to be worth a load of hay, is any more valuable than a Swann in July, assessed at less than a fly. Early swarming robs an active hive of the best of their honey collectors at a vital season, and the new hive has to spend valuable time on other jobs. It does not as a rule do great service in its first year. July swarming on the other hand gives the new colony just time to settle down for the winter after the year's contribution to honey-collecting has already been made. So for myself I rejoice in the safe housing of a late swarm discovered on a roadside hedge in July.
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