1895. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



245 



We are forced to the conclusion 

 that there is a vast difference in the 

 dispositions of different colonies, or, 

 perhaps we might say, a particular 

 individuality peculiar to each colony. 

 When we consider, then, the different 

 climates to which bees are subjected, 

 the difference in the flora, and the 

 difference in the time of year that 

 the main crop is gathered in different 

 arts of the world, it is not to be wond- 

 ered at that all bees in all places do not 

 act alike ? It is surprising that a 

 hive and a particular system of man- 

 agement that work well in one part 

 of the country are failures in another 

 and widely separated location ? It is 

 strange that we have not, can not at 

 present, and, perhaps, never will, all 

 agree on any particular size or shape 

 of hive or any particular system of 

 management ? 



I could continue further in this 

 line ; but as my article is becoming 

 long I will try to come to the point 

 which I tried to bring out. Can we 

 not, perhaps by studying the nature 

 and particular characteristics of each 

 colony, be enabled to manage them 

 with greater success and profit ? 

 Would it not often be better to yield 

 to the particular whims of a colony, 

 or at least compromise matters, than 

 to undertake to make them do alto- 

 gether according to our ways of think- 

 ing, when our way may be in direct 

 opposition to what is the height of 

 their ambition or desire ? 



Probably there are few if any bee- 

 keepers, who use modern hives, that 

 have not at sone time tried to prevent 

 a colony from swarming, and by so do- 

 ing caused them to sulk until the 

 honey-harvest was past, and thus ob- 

 tained nothing from a colony that, by 



proper management (that is, by hum- 

 oring them in their desire to multiply, 

 and replenish the earth,) might have 

 been induced to store considerable 

 surplus honey. 



In my mind there is no doubt that 

 some colonies will build comb much 

 more readily than others. To put 

 such at storing honey to be extracted, 

 and those that are disinclined to build 

 comb at work in the sections, would 

 certainly be a mistake ; and yet how 

 many of us pay any attention to this 

 in putting on the surplus receptacles? 



The above is a subject which I do 

 not recollect having seen discussed in 

 any of the bee-papers, and I feel that 

 I have made only a feeble effort : but 

 if it should call forth any ad- 

 vice from some of the leading lights 

 in bee culture, it may be of use to the 

 fraternity. 



Bluffton, Mo. 



(From the Nebraska QueeeuJ 



TO PREVENT AFTER-SWARMS. 



This morning, while the bees are 

 finishing up a few top supers, I find 

 time to write something for the 

 " Queen," and choose for my subject 

 The Prevention of After-swarms. 

 The advice generally given to prevent 

 after-swarms is to cut out all queen 

 cells but one soon after the jDrime 

 swarm has issued, I believe this is the 

 general practice, and I followed in the 

 same rut for some time, but it always 

 seemed to me there was to much fuss- 

 ing about it, too much opening of 

 hives and handling of frames ; and 

 besides, a cell might be overlooked 

 occasionally, and another swarm would 

 issue anyhow. 



For three years I have practiced a 

 method which has proven satisfactory 



