28 COMB HONEY. 
quite low, but during good seasons the conditions are sometimes such 
that a majority of the colonies may make an effort toswarm. Swarm- 
ing colonies, however, may be controlled in such a manner that 
practically as much surplus honey is secured as if the colony made no 
attempt to swarm. If but a single apiary is being operated and the 
beekeeper is present during the swarming season, the bees may be 
permitted to swarm naturally without loss to the beekeeper; but if 
several apiaries are being operated, it is more economical to employ 
some method by which swarming may be controlled by visiting each 
apiary at given intervals during the swarming season, rather than to 
have an attendant at each. 
Control of Natural Swarms. 
Natural swarms may be managed (1) by allowing them to cluster 
naturally, then hiving them in the ordinary manner; (2) by the 
clipped queen method; (3) by the use of queen traps (fig. 13; see. 
Farmers’ Bulletin No. 
447, pp. 29-30); or (4) 
by use of the swarm 
catcher. 
To keep the forces to- 
gether -(1) the swarm 
without the queen may 
be returned to its hive, 
Fig. 13.—Drone and queen trap on hive entrance. (From Phillips.) the queen cells de- 
stroyed a week later, and the colony afterwards requeened (p. 36); or 
(2) the brood may be removed from the hive while the swarm is out, 
after which the swarm with the queen is returned. The former 
method is useful under some conditions (p. 37), but the latter is 
the one usually preferred. 
When the swarm is hived back without the brood on its old location 
in this manner, the colony does not lose any of its flying bees and is 
back at work with renewed energy in the same set of supers it was but a 
few minutes before so eagerly deserting. Instead of removing the 
combs from the brood chamber the usual practice is the removal of the 
entire brood chamber and the substitution of another whose external 
appearance is the same. This method of swarm management keeps 
the bees, queen, and supers together and is one of the most satisfactory 
known. It is not, however, adapted to out-apiaries or any aplaries 
not having an attendant, and requires considerable time in watching 
for and hiving swarms. 
1 This is simply a wire-cloth cage large enough to be set over the hive or be fitted over the entrance. If 
the attendant is provided with a number of these catchers he can avoid the usual confusion ordinarily 
occurring when several swarms issue at about the same time. After being caught in this manner the 
swarms may be hived at the convenience of the beekeeper. 
503 
