OR, MANUAI, OF THE APIARY. 301 



TO PREVENT SECOND SWARMS. 



The Heddon method of preventing' second swarms has 

 already been explained. This method is valuable because it 

 requires no looking up of queen-cells, and thus saves time. 



As already stated, the wise apiarist will always have on 

 band extra queens. Now, if he does not desire to form nuclei 

 (as already explained), and thus use these queen-cells, he will 

 at once give the old colony a fertile queen. At the same time 

 this practice secures only carefully reared queens from his best 

 colonies. As the queen usually destroys all queen-cells, 

 farther swarming is prevented. The method of Introduction 

 will be fiven hereafter, though in such cases there is very 

 little danger incurred by giving them a queen at once. If 

 desired, the queen-cells can be used in forming nuclei, in man- 

 ner before described. If extra queens are wanting, we have 

 only to look carefully — very carefully, as it is easy to miss a 

 small, worthless cell in some cranny or corner of the comb — 

 through the old hive and remove all but one of the queen-cells. 

 A little care will certainly make sure work, as after swarming 

 the old hive is so thinned of bees that only carelessness will 

 overlook queen-cells in such a quest. Mr. Doolittle waits till 

 the eighth day, or till he hears the piping of the young 

 queen ; then cuts out all queen-cells, when, of course, he cer- 

 tainly inhibits second swarms. When this practice fails, as 

 it very rarely does, it is because two cells were left. 



TO PREVENT SWARMING. 



As yet we can only partly avert it. Mr. Quinby offered 

 a large reward for a perfect non-swarming hive, and never had 

 to make the payment. Mr. Hazen attempted it, and partially 

 succeeded, by granting much space to the bees, so that they 

 should not be impelled to vacate for lack of room. The Quinby 

 hive, already described, by the large capacity of the brood- 

 chamber, and ample opportunity for top and side storing, 

 looks to the same end. Mr. Simmins, of England, thinks he 

 can prevent swarming by keeping unoccupied cells between 

 the brood-nest and entrance to the hive. Mr. Muth says if we 

 always have empty cells in the brood-nest swarming will sel- 



