Swarm Control and Increase 267 



problem for the northern comb-honey producer, and from 

 these men we have obtained the best systems for controlling 

 swarming and also the most light on its cause. 



In the South, where the honey-flows are longer and less 

 intense, swarming is less frequent, and this is also true in the 

 irrigated regions of the West. In those regions of the tropics 

 where the honey-flows are practically continuous, there may 

 be a kind of swarming season, but swarms are so much less 

 frequent that the northern beekeeper would not consider 

 the control of swarming a serious problem in such a 

 locality. 



Variation in colonies in respect to swarming preparations. 



In any apiary and in almost any season, colonies differ 

 greatly in their propensity to swarm. (1) There are some 

 which show no indication of swarming. These are the very 

 best for honey-production and the beekeeper should aim 

 to increase their number. (2) Other colonies show a tend- 

 ency to swarm by starting queen cells, but may be deterred 

 either by cutting out the newly started queen cells or by tak- 

 ing away some combs of brood. (3) Still other colonies 

 are more persistent and will swarm if the honey-flow continues 

 unless they are subjected to some radical manipulations. 

 (4) Some colonies whose queens fail swarm in connection 

 with the supersedure of the old queen. 



"Of 160 colonies run for comb honey that were fair sub- 

 jects for comparison, 13f per cent went through the season 

 without ever offering to start queen-cells; 12 J per cent 

 started cells one or more times, but gave it up when their 

 cells were destroyed ; and 73| per cent seemed so bent on 

 swarming that they were treated by being kept queenless 

 10 or 15 days. The colonies that were left with their queens 

 all the time averaged 36| per cent more sections than those 

 that were treated. But that's better than they would have 

 done if left queenless for 21 days, which would be the case 

 practically if swarms were shaken." C. C. Miller, 1905, 

 " Gleanings in Bee Culture," XXXIII, p. 1174. 



