DIFFERENCE IN SWARMS. 165 



the combs are furnished with eggs as fast as built. 

 The first swarm is worth three after swarms, they 

 being small in comparison, and having queens not yet 

 fertile, no eggs are laid for a period of at least eight 

 days after being hived ; thus losing considerable time 

 before their numbers commence to increase. The 

 parent hive, having a queen of nearly the same age 

 as that of a second or last swarm departing from it, 

 will also require a like period to become fertile. 



The period that intervenes between the first and 

 second swarms departing, usually affords the best 

 pasturage of the season ; hence, the former are ena- 

 bled to accumulate a considerable amount of stores 

 before the latter have commenced. 



The assertion that " a second swarm is just as 

 good as the first," is frequently made, but it is only 

 true when both are put into hives seven by ten ; the 

 latter is then sure to fill its hive, and the former (if 

 let alone) can do no more. 



