Question

Proverb - Identify the correct proverb

Answer 1

Step 1 — About the proverb:
The given proverb is a traditional English saying related to beekeeping. It reflects the importance of the month in which a swarm of bees is captured, because it determines the productivity and value of the hive for the season.

Step 2 — Meaning explained:
- “A swarm in May is worth a load of hay” → A bee swarm in May is very valuable because it has the whole summer to produce honey.
- “A swarm in June is worth a silver spoon” → A swarm in June is still useful and profitable, though slightly less than in May.
- “But a swarm in July is not worthy” → A swarm in July is considered too late in the season to be of much benefit, as there isn’t enough time left for the bees to produce enough honey.

Step 3 — Conclude:
Thus, the correct proverb is:
“A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worthy.”

Answer: The correct proverb is Swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worthy.

Answer 2

This is a well-known English folk proverb about beekeeping, and it can be understood by tracking the value of a bee swarm across the summer months.

Early in the season, in May, a captured swarm has almost the entire summer ahead of it to build comb and gather nectar, so it is described as being worth a full load of hay. By June the swarm still has a fair stretch of the season left, so its worth is compared to something valuable but smaller, a silver spoon. By July, however, so little of the productive season remains that the swarm cannot build up enough stores to be worthwhile, so it is called not worthy at all.

Reading the three lines together in order therefore gives the complete traditional saying.

the correct answer is 'A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worthy.'