THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



ed swarming for years, and the latter 

 tells about it in Gleanings, using the 

 following language: 



'"SHOOK-SWARMING" PRACTICED BEFORE 



THE INTRODUCTION OF MOVABLE 



COMBS. 



"Before the introduction of the 

 movable-comb hive Capt. Hethington 

 forced all of his swarms by driving 

 them out into an empty hive, and I 

 very much doubt if this method of 

 making forced swarms has been im- 

 proved upon since. The driving pro- 

 cess caused them to gorge them- 

 selves witli honey, which seems to be 

 quite necessary for wax secretion. It 

 also caused them to adhere to a new 

 location quite well when rhat was de- 

 sired. 



SOME IMPORTANT DETAILS OF 

 MANAGEMENT. 



Ever since we first kept bees, thir- 

 ty years ago, we have practiced forc- 

 ed swarming more or less. With our 

 out-yards we have been compelled to 

 take the matter in our own hands; 

 and we find that, the nearer we can 

 keep to nature's methods, and at the 

 same time accomplish our purposes, 

 the better. Instead of driving, we 

 find with movable combs that it is 

 more convenient to shalie, taking 

 some pains to have the bees fill them- 

 selves with lioney, and also to leave 

 always enough bees with the brood 

 to protect it. If making is deferred 

 until they are about ready to swarm 

 they often do swarm out after being 

 made; but unless several are out to- 

 gether they usually return all right, 

 and work with increased vigor for 

 having had their spin in the an-. If 

 shaken into a large brood-nest they 

 are less apt to fly out; and if the sur- 

 plus receptacles are left off for a few 

 days there will be no trouble from 

 pollen being stored in sections. At 



the time of returning sections the size 

 of the brood-nest may be adjusted to 

 the size of the swarm. If not conven- 

 ient to leave off the supers a sheet of 

 comb will catch the bee-bread. Foun- 

 dation or starters may be used at the 

 option of the bee-keeper — more ex- 

 pense with foundation, more work 

 with starters; for, with the best man- 

 agement, there will be quite a little 

 drone comb to cut out and replace 

 with worker. When a comb is used 

 to catch the pollen Ave usually use 

 foundation with it. 



A SECOND SH.\KING NOT ALWAYS 

 ADVISABLE. 



Some bee-keepers, after a week or 

 ten days, increase the strength of the 

 swarm by giving the combs a second 

 sliaking. AVhile this has its advan- 

 tages it also has its disadvantages; 

 for so large an addition of strange 

 l)ees or of bees expecting a young 

 queen, often produces trouble, caus- 

 ing swarming or supersedure of tlie 

 queen. It is also liable, unless great 

 care is taken, to leave the young 

 swarm too weak. 



ADNANTAGES OF DEQUKENING. 



You ask if Capt. Hetlierington and 

 myself still practice dequeening. AVe 

 do. By this method there is much 

 less work, less mixing up by having 

 swailus come out together; more hon- 

 ey; bettor-filled sections, and the col- 

 onies usually in better condition for 

 winter. This method may seem to be 

 entirely contrary to nature's methods, 

 but it is not. When a prime swarm 

 issues, and tlie queen is lost from 

 lack of vigor, as often happens, and 

 the swarm returns, the colony is in 

 the same condition that one of our 

 dequeened swarms is. We, however, 

 carry the matter a step further, and 

 do not allow them to swarm again, 

 but return the queen or anotlier at 

 about the same time they would nat- 



