506 now TO MAKE THE FARM PAY. 



buckwheat, second swarms form large colonies, and will often 

 make very strong stocks. One swarm from each stock, how- 

 ever, is usually the better plan for any except experienced 

 ,'ipiarians. If any of the swarms do not prosper, they can be 

 united before winter. Keep your stocks strong, even if you 

 allow no swarming. Two weak stocks will perish, when, if 

 they were united, they would make good stocks. In the Laug- 

 stroth hive the swarming can be controlled, and one, two, or 

 three swarms allowed, as desired. 



Artificial Swarming. The advantages of being able to 

 control swarming are numerous. The three principal ones are, 

 that it obviates the necessity of watching the bees all through 

 the swarming season, prevents the loss of swarms, and secures 

 ^ust the number of divisions desired, and no more. If it is not 

 desired to increase the number of hives at all, the queen is pre- 

 vented from leaving the hive, and the colony kept in the same 

 hive for several successive years. This makes very strong 

 stocks, and, if plenty of room is given for storing surplus 

 honey, usually nearly two-thirds as much will be secured from 

 this one hive as if it h-^d been made into two. It wall be oeen 

 by referring to Fifj. 110, that plenty of surplus room can be 

 given to the bees in the movable comb hive. A second hive, 

 with the bottom off, can be set over the main hive, instead of 

 the honey boxes, if desired. At the entrance of the hive are 

 seen two little blocks ; these can be arranged so as to prevent 

 the exit of the queen, while giving free access to the workers , 

 and by this means swarming is controlled. When drones begin 

 to appear, and queen cells have been constructed, is the proper 

 time for artificial swarming. Have ready as many hives as you 

 intend to make swarms. In arranging the frames {see frame b, 

 Fig. 110) in these (which we shall call new hives, to designate 

 them from the occupied hives, which we shall call old hives) 



