76 HOW TO KEEP BEES 



back the queen and drones. Although this method 

 saves time, yet comparatively few recommend it. 

 The cost of the trap is one objection ; but the greater 

 objection seems to be that it inconveniences the 

 workers when returning from the fields; and is, 

 therefore, likely to affect the amount of honey stored, 

 since much time is lost and some annoyance occa- 

 sioned to the bees by being obliged to squeeze through ; 

 it also scrapes the pollen off their legs. (Plate XVI. ) 



By giving-room. Supposing that our queen is 

 clipped or confined, which is the first step, the next 

 is to give plenty of room in the brood-chamber. 

 Lack of room for brood and honey is one of the 

 most potent reasons for inducing swarming. So 

 the first thing to do after the disappointed swarm 

 comes back to the hive is to tier up the supers. It is 

 also well to remove from the hive a frame or two of 

 brood which may be put in the hive of some weaker 

 colony; in place of the removed frame is substituted 

 another containing a starter of foundation; and the 

 would-be swarm, finding that there is plenty to do, is 

 content to remain at home for a time. 



By extracting honey. It will often pacify a colony 

 to take the frames from the brood-chamber and 

 extract the honey from them. This may be done 

 when the brood is present, if care is taken not to 

 run the separator so rapidly as to throw out the 

 larvae, a performance quite as distasteful to the young 

 bees as to the consumer. However, this should not 

 be practised unless much honey is coming in, as 

 otherwise the brood may be starved. 



