IjJlY 15, 1912 



309 



Dr. L. A. Siiniuou aud his swarm controller connecting the entrance of the colony 

 being treated with the " annex." 



Will it pay him to increase or to breed to 

 get the other 25 per cent? Not Uncle Tob. 

 He is starting another apiary of 100 colonies 

 to get another 75 per cent with about the 

 same labor. 



The point of all this is, are we ready for 

 improved stock? Is it practical in the pres- 

 ent undeveloped condition of the beekeeping 

 territory to spend time on intensive bee- 

 keeping? There is more to this than breed- 

 ing, for the same suggestions apply to many 

 of the "advanced" manipulations. Much 

 of the above isn't true, but it may be worth 

 thinking on some winter evening. 



Moral. — Mow the grass in your apiary if 

 you wish, but don't wear it out by walking 

 on it. 



HOW TO CONTROL THE SWARMING IMPULSE 

 WHEN ONCE ESTABLISHED 



A Continuation of the Discussion Started on Page 

 137, March 1 



BY DR. L. A. SIMMON 



Every practical beekeeper knows the dif- 

 ficulty in controlling the swarming fever 

 when once developed. Whatever method 

 we employ must have for its object the grat- 

 ifying of that desire in order to eliminate it. 

 To illustrate the strength of this impulse, 

 and the tenacity with which they cling to 

 the desire and determination to swarm, I 

 will cite the following example: 



I had one colony that was used as a check 

 in experimental work, that was not provid- 

 ed with the swarm-controller, but had abun- 

 dant super room. This colony developed 

 the swarming impulse in July. I cut out 

 all queen-cells and depleted the working 



forces by re- 

 moving part of 

 the brood, re- 

 placing with 

 full sheets of 

 foundation; 

 and yet, about 

 every two 

 weeks I would 

 find a new crop 

 of queen - cells 

 in the hive. On 

 Sept. 19 1 swap- 

 ped queens with 

 a colony whose 

 bees had never 

 swarmed. T o 

 day, Oct. 28, 

 there are nine 

 ripe queen-cells 

 in this hive 

 with the swarm- 

 ingqueen,while 

 the other hive, 

 where queen- 

 cells had been 

 the rule for 

 three months, 

 but now presid- 

 ed over by a 

 non-swarming queen, is breeding well and 

 has ceased to build queen-cells. This experi- 

 ment would indicate that in this case the 

 swarming impulse lies with the queen. It 

 is not probable, however, that the queen al- 

 ways takes the initiative, for there are a 

 number of auxiliary contributing causes 

 that have their share of influence at times; 

 and in order to check those influences they 

 must be gratified, or, as in the case above 

 cited, they will continue. 



In any case, wheie adequate controlling 

 measures have not been installed in time, 

 and queen-cells have made their appearance 

 in the hive, adjust your hives as seen in 

 the cut. The right-hand hive is the cell- 

 building colony. The left is the annex, 

 which is filled with full sheets of foundation. 

 The swarm-controller, which is attached to 

 the annex, must have the rear chamber of 

 the controller closed between the two hives 

 by means of the slides, and the shutter at 

 the back. The bees now have access to the 

 annex through the front vestibule. This ar- 

 rangement should be made two or three 

 days previous to further manipulations, so 

 that the bees will become acquainted with 

 the new entrance, and have time to investi- 

 gate the annex. When the queen-cells are 

 nearly ripe, open the hives about noon; and 

 after removing two of the frames of founda- 

 tion from the left side, transfer two combs 

 of honey and sealed brood with the queen 

 from the right side to the annex on the left. 

 Now close the entrance of the old hive lead- 

 ing into the front vestibule of the controller, 

 and at the same time open the entrance of 

 the annex communicating with the front 

 vestibule. Next open the regular entrance 

 of the old hive, or the one at the opposite 

 end from the controller. The bees will now 



