1410 Department of Agriculture 



thej remain for a longer or shorter period before leaving for a 

 home in the woods During this interim the bees must be hived. 

 When the queen is clipped, she may be caged and placed with the 

 swarm, or the old hive may be removed to a new stand, the new hive 

 placed upon the old stand. Allow the swarm to return to that 

 position, placing the caged queen with them and liberating her 

 after a short time. Sometimes returning swarms will enter neigh- 

 boring hives, when they should be covered with sheets to exclude 

 them. Xew swarms are often loth to enter a hive filled with 

 foundation in the middle of the day when the weather is warm, 

 and will frequently leave it after hiving. I much prefer to hive 

 swarms temporarily, as they issue, in empty boxes of suitable size, 

 keeping them well shaded and ventilated until evening; then hiv- 

 ing them on foundation. By doing this they will usually be nicely 

 settled before morning. Swarms may be disposed of much more 

 rapidly in this way, with less danger of mixing up, in large 

 apiaries. 



If swarms are not desired, the hives should be well ventilated, 

 have large entrances, more or less shade and plenty of room for 

 storing honey and rearing brood. 



ARTIFICIAL increase 



Some apiarists maintain that natural swarms are best, that they 

 work with an eagerness surpassing all artificially made increase. 

 However, with proper management and manipulation, the latter 

 have proved to be the equal of the former in production, besides 

 giving several distinct advantages. If the apiarist has his colonies 

 in proper condition, he can make his increase at the beginning of 

 the honey flow or at any time he may desire, and do it rapidly: 

 Whereas, if he depends on natural swarming, he must spend the 

 best part of every fair day in the apiary watching and waiting for 

 swarms during the swarming season, which often continues from 

 four to six weeks. 



The forced swarms should be made at the commencement of the 

 swarming season, so as to forestall swarming in the main and 

 speedily get all colonies in condition for the honey harvest. After 

 division, if given sufficient room for storage and proper ventilation, 

 there is but little danger of their swarming. 



