; 14 
the first season, and, as they are vigorous layers, the hive will be well populated at 
all times and thus ready for any harvest. This is important, inasmuch as a flow of 
honey may come unexpectedly from some plant ordinarily not counted upon, and 
also since the conditions essential to the development of the various honey-yielding 
plants differ greatly, their time and succession of honey yield will also differ with 
the season the same as the quantity may vary. Young queens are also safest to 
head the colonies for the winter. The plan is conducive to the highest prosperity of 
the colonies, and is consistent with the securing of the largest average yield of 
honey, since, besides giving them vigorous layers, it generally keeps the population 
together in powerful colonies. It is therefore to he commended on all accounts as 
being in line with the most progressive management, without at the same time 
interfering with the application of other preventive measures. 
Space near entrances.—Arranging frames with starters or combs merely begun 
between the brood nest and the flight 
hole of the hive while the bees are 
given storing space above or back of 
the brood nest (figs. 7 and 8) is a plan 
strongly recommended by Mr. Samuel 
Simmins, of England, and which has 
come to be known as ‘‘the Simmins 
non-swarming method,” some features 
of it and the combination into a well- 
defined method having been original 
withhim. It is an excellent prevent- 
ive measure, though not invariably 
successful, even when the distinctive 
features brought forward prominently 
¢ by Mr. Simmins—empty space be- 
tween the brood combs and entrance, 
together with the employment of 
drawn combs in the supers—are sup- 
plemented by other measures already 
mentioned; but when, in addition to 
the space between the brood and the 
Fia. 8.—The Simmins non-swarming system—double flight hole, the precaution be taken to 
ae ap A asas Lees aa a 2 pees get supers on in time, to ventilate the 
eS hive well, and to keep queens not over 
two years old, swarming will be very 
limited. If to these precautions be added that of substituting for the old queens 
young ones of the current season’s raising, before swarming has begun, practical 
immunity from swarming is generally insured. 
Selection in breeding.—Some races of bees show greater inclination than others 
toward swarming, and the same difference can be noted between individual colonies 
of a given race; therefore, whatever methods be adopted to prevent or limit 
increase, no doubt the constant selection of those queens to breed from whose 
workers show the least tendency toward swarming would in time greatly reduce 
this disposition. Indeed, it is perfectly consistent to believe that persistent effort, 
coupled with rigid and intelligent selection, will eventually result in a strain of 
bees quite as much entitled to be termed non-swarming as certain breeds of fowls 
which have been produced by artificial selection are to be called non-sitters. These 
terms are of-course only relative, being merely indicative of the possession of a cer- 
tain disposition in a less degree than that shown by others of the same species. It 
might never be possible to change the nature of our honey bees so completely that 
they would never swarm under any circumstances, and even if possible it would 
take a long period, so strongly implanted seems this instinct. But to modify it 1s 
within the reach of any intelligent breeder who will persistently make the effort. 

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