134 journal of Agriculture. [9 March, 1908. 



this kind of absconding, for every hive cannot be examined often enough 

 to discover the loss of a queen, but whenever a colony is found in which 

 the presence of queen cells and the absence of eggs indicate queen lessness, 

 all the queen cells except one of the best developed should be destroyed. 

 After the young queen has emerged, one, two or three combs (according 

 to strength of the colony) of eggs and young larvae from other colonies- 

 able to spare such, should be given. The presence of this young brood 

 will hold the bees, that is, prevent them going with the queen when she 

 leaves the hive for the purpose of mating. 



This practice of breaking out surplus queen cells and giving young 

 brood after the only remaining cell has hatched is also the best way of 

 preventing the issue of after-swarms from hives which have thrown a first 

 or prime swarm and from which further swarms are not desired. 



In the case of ordinary box hives which owing to the absence of frames- 

 cannot be dealt with in the way described, the same object may be attained, 

 but with less certainty by placing the newly hived first swarm on the spot 

 occupied by the old box after having removed the latter to a new stand. 

 This causes most of the old bees which still remained in the parent hive 

 when the swarm issued, to join the swarm because it occupies the spot to 

 which they fly when returning from the fields. Thus only bees which 

 have never yet been flying out remain in the parent hive which in conse- 

 quence is not able to cast another swarm when the first of the queen cells 

 hatches. The first emerging queen is therefore allowed by the bees to 

 destroy the remaining queen cells. When a colony swarms before any 

 queen cells are sealed, and there is much brood in the hive, sufficient bees 

 will ha^•e become of field age during the extra length of time which must 

 elapse before the first queen hatches, to bring the colony fo swarming 

 strength and a second swarm may result notwithstanding the removal of 

 the colony to a new stand when the first swarm issued. 



Much of the absconding of swarms which issue in a normal' sea.son 

 could be prevented by the owner of the bees if he were aware of the 

 causes which bring it about. One cause is leaving the swarm too long 

 before hiving it. A normal swarm usually settles somewhere not far from 

 the old hive. After an hour or so scouts go out looking for a place to 

 found a new home, and after such has been fo'und the swarm will often 

 persist in turning out after hiving and perhaps finally absconding to the 

 place selected. Other causes of swarms refusing to stay when hived are 

 excessive heat, want of ventilation, annoyance from ants or robber b<^es, or 

 an objectionable odour of the box, that of kerosene, for instance. 



The bees of a swarm are in a state of excitement and the box in 

 which they are hived should be well shaded and given a large entrance 

 for three or four davs. It should also be free from odours or stickiness 

 of honey, which would attract ants or robbers. 



Turned out swarms are more troublesome than swarrns issuing for the 

 first time. In the latter case the bees are gorged with honey and there- 

 fore heavy ; they settle low and are seldom inclined to sting. On tEe 

 other hand bees swarming out of an empty hive after having consumed 

 the honey they carried are light on the wing, often settle in inaccessible 

 places, sting more readily, and frequently abscond. 



