162 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



preventing swarms. I make no promise to be either 

 modest or humble. 



So long as success in prevention of swarms has not 

 been reached, it remains an important matter to know the 

 best thing to do when swarms do issue. Under ordinary 

 circumstances some one must be on hand to watch for 

 swarms. For several years I have had no watching for 

 swarms, and have had no swarms except those which 

 swarmed in spite of my efforts to prevent them. Y'et if I 

 had only the one apiary, it is just possible that I might 

 allowing swarming, at least so far as to allow the bees to 

 swarm and then return to their old hives. At any rate 

 there are a great many so situated as to allow their bees to 

 go thus far in swarming, and I feel pretty sure that for 

 them there may be some interest in knowing what I did 

 when swarms did issue, so I will give an account of my 

 management when I formerly allowed the bees to swarm. 



WATCHING FOR SWARMS. V^ 



AMth as many as 100 colonies in an apiary, the one 

 who is on watch can hardly be allowed to do anything 

 else. The regular noise is so great among so many that 

 the added noise of a swarm is hardly noticed ; so sight, 

 not hearing must be depended on. I have gone on with 

 my regular work and taken a look once in five or ten min- 

 utes along the rows to see if any swarms were out. but 

 it is not a very satisfactory way of doing. A bright boy 

 or girl can watch very well, if faithful. It is not neces- 

 sary, of course to watch all day ; and the weather has 

 much to do with the hours at which swarms may be ex- 

 pected. On a hot morning a swarm may issue as early as 

 6 o'clock : but this is exceptional, and if the weather has 

 been cloudy through the day, clearing off bright and 

 warm in the after part, a swarm may issue after 4 o'clock. 

 Ordinarily, howxver, it is not necessary to be on the look- 

 out before 8 a. m., or much after 2 p. m. I had a swarm 

 issue once in a shower, but, that is so unlikely to occur 

 that I would not think it worth while to keep any watch 

 at such a time. 



