1895. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



213 



the flowers yield honey. Of course 

 there are exceptional instances. Also, 

 the hives are usually overflowing with 

 bees. If an examination of the col- 

 ony be made after swarming we will 

 find comparatively few bees left in the 

 hive ; but, an inspection of the combs 

 will reveal a large proportion of sealed 

 brood — thousands upon thousands of 

 maturing bees to repair the loss occa- 

 sioned by swarming. Upon further 

 investigation we will find the new 

 swarms composed of young, middle 

 aged and old bees — bees of all ages 

 adapted to fill the requirements of a 

 new colony — honey gatherers, wax 

 workers, and nurse bees. The few 

 which remain in the parent hive are 

 likewise of various ages, with nurse 

 bees in sufficient numbers to care for 

 the unsealed brood. 



In order to produce a vigorous work- 

 ing colony by an artificial process, the 

 first essential is to have it composed of 

 bees of various ages. 2d. That it be 

 made during a honey flow, or period 

 of natural increase. 3d. That it be 

 separated from the combs of the par- 

 ent colony. 



In absence of the swai'ming impulse, 

 under which the bees of natural 

 swarms mark and adhere to a new lo- 

 cation , it becomes necessary to reverse 

 the order, by removing the comb struc- 

 ture of the hive, and allowing the 

 forced swarm to occupy the familiar 

 hive and location. 



At this juncture excellent judgment 

 is required. The honey yield must be 

 considered, and the condition of the 

 col«ny or colonies from which increase 

 is to be made must be ascertained, 

 both as to the amount of brood, (wheth- 

 er sealed or otherwise), and the general 

 strength in regard to numbers. 



An exchange of sealed for unsealed 

 brood combs of two colonies, making 

 six sealed combs for the parent col- 

 ony, will work to great advantage in 

 approximating those under natural 

 circumstances ; while the one contain- 

 ing unsealed combs will be ready for a 

 similar method of increase a week or 

 ten days later. However, the colony 

 which receives unsealed brood in lieu 

 of the sealed, is proportionally retard- 

 ed in its increase, and it fully effects 

 any advantage gained by exchange. I 

 consider any or all exchanges unpro- 

 fitable. 



As a compensation for the lack of 

 naturalness in having a sufficient pro- 

 portion of sealed brood, I allow a large 

 quota of bees to remain as nurses. 

 This of course must necessarilly de- 

 tract from the size of the forced 

 swarm. Recognizing a lack of uni- 

 formity in the issuing of natural 

 swarms, I prefer to wait, and select 

 only those having plenty of sealed 

 brood. There ought not to be less 

 than four combs fully sealed. After a 

 colony is selected for increase, place 

 an empty hive near to receive the 

 combs of brood and honey ; also, have 

 in readiness frames containing full 

 sheets of foundatioh. Starters will 

 answer ; but to avoid the construc- 

 tion of drone combs, as well as encour- 

 age the new colony, I prefer to fur- • 

 nish full sheets. Proceed with a smok- 

 er, giving them a little a the entrance, 

 then open and remove the combs, ex- 

 amining and transferring them to the 

 new hive until the queen is found. If 

 found upon a comb containing empty 

 cells and unsealed brood (which is 

 most likely), return both comb and 

 queen to the old hive. If upon a 

 comb of sealed brood, transfer her to 



