84 



BEEKEEPIXG IX THE SOUTH 



Fig. 38. Box hive apiary of a typical mountaineer. 



to exces?i^'e swarming. After-swarms even to the number of 

 five or six are not infrequent from a single "gum." These later 

 swarms are always smaller, build up slowly for winter and are 

 often hived so late that it is impossible to suppose they can gather 

 enough honey to winter on. The fact that excessive swarming 

 is allowed may account for the great number of bees in these 

 localities, as the census map of bee culture shows. The applica- 

 tion of modern methods of uniting late swarms and the preven- 

 tion of excessive swarming works wonders in this fertile country. 

 It is hard to convince beekeepers in these regions that they can 



