Swarm Control. 93 
(3) When the main honey-flow cf the season occurs previous to the 
time the bees are in condition to swarm, the full crop can not be 
harvested because the colonies must utilize the honey-flow for build- 
ing up to full strength. This condition is found in many localities in 
which the main honey-flow occurs quite early, if the management is 
not directed toward the early development of the colonies. The 
obvious remedy for this condition is a change in the management 
which may enable the bees to become sufficiently strong in time for 
the honey-flow. (See Farmers’ Bulletins Nos. 1012, 1014, and 10389.) 
HIVING NATURAL SWARMS. 
The beekeeper who is operating but one apiary and expects to be 
present during the swarming season usually prefers to take precau- 
tions to prevent swarming as much as practicable, then hive the 
swarms that issue, rather than to examine all the colonies each week 
to anticipate swarming. If out-apiaries are being operated, or if 
the beekeeper is away from home during the day, natural swarming 
should not be permitted, 
When natural swarming is permitted, the work of hiving the 
swarms is easier if the queens’ wings are clipped’ previous to the 
swarming season. This does not prevent swarming but it does pre- 
vent the swarm from leaving and averts the necessity of taking 
swarms down from tall trees or other inaccessible places, since a 
clipped queen can not go with the swarm and the bees will return 
to the hive. If by chance another swarm having a queen that can 
fly happens to be out at the same time and unites with the queenless 
one, the swarm can not be expected to return. The best time to clip 
the wings of the queen is usually during some early honey-flow, like 
that from fruit bloom, before the colonies have become very popu- 
1To find the queen, take out one or two of the outside combs from the side of the hive 
next to the operator. If the queen is not on these combs, set them aside in order that 
the remaining combs may be more readily examined. If robbers are troublesome these 
combs must be put into an empty hive or a light box that will hold two or three frames 
and kept covered while they are out of the hive. As each of the remaining combs is re- 
moved from the hive, glance quickly over the exposed side of the next comb in the hive 
to see if the queen is there. If she is not there, turn the comb just removed to examine 
the other side and proceed in this way until the queen is found. As the combs are exam- 
ined they are placed back into the hive on the side nearest the operator in order to main- 
tain an open space between the combs already examined and those yet to be examined. 
This work should be done rapidly and no more smoke should be used than is necessary for 
rapid wov’k. If the bees are inclined to be nervous and run on the combs it is necessary 
to watch for the queen in the spaces between the lower edge of the comb and the bottom 
bar of the frames, and also on the bottom and sides of the hive, for if the queen becomes 
frightened she may run off of the combs into these spaces. 
When the queen is found she may be picked up by taking hold of her wings with the 
thumb and forefinger of the right hand. She is then transferred to the left hand and 
held lightly either by the thorax or by her feet, The right hand is now free to pick up 
a pair of small sharp-pointed scissors and clip off tte major portions of the wings on one 
side. The queen is now transferred back to the comb by taking hold of the remaining 
wing. 
