SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE S3 



SWARMING. 



Every living thing has some way of multiplying or reproducing its kind, 

 and swarming is the way the honey-bees have extended their species from 

 year to year. It is imbedded in their instinct to do so, and they may at any 

 time when things look favorable to them, for they certainly have a desire to 

 do so which can never be removed from them. But conditions can be brought 

 about that will greatly lessen swarming, though they desire to, yet conditions 

 do not seem favorable to them to do so. Our earliest pollen-plants will begin 

 to bloom in January, and the bees will begin to rear young; and along in 

 February they will have a large batch of young bees in all stages of devel- 

 opment : and during March some honey will be coming ; and usually we have 

 some warm days and nights, and the bees will spread their brood rapidly, 

 and by the first of April the brood-nest is full of young bees, and is kept this 

 way until the first heavy honey-flow begins ; and by this time the hive should 

 be boiling over with bees, and will at once begin to make preparation to 

 swarm by starting queen-cells ; and if there are any old ones about over the 

 comb the queen will lay eggs in them ; and by the time the honey-flow is well 

 on, the bees may begin to swarm, because conditions are favorable, there being 

 plenty of honey in the fields, and a good supply in the hive, and plenty of old 

 and young bees, and all things appear in a prosperous condition to them ; and 

 the young queens in the cells (one of which is to be the mother of the colony) 

 are fast developing. It is natural then to suppose they may swarm. 



Some time during this period they will come to an understanding in 

 regard to the matter, and cease feeding their queen so highly, so she will 

 slack up egg-laying and be able to fly and go out with the swarm. Then 

 some time during the first warm sunny day they will boil out of the hive 

 in an excited manner and the old queen with them, leaving a portion of 

 the bees with the old colony to keep it in a thriving condition. The great 

 army of bees are soon out, making a heavy roaring noise, and after flying 

 in a circling manner for a few minutes they will settle on some object. 

 Sometimes they do not settle at all. but soon are off, going in a straight direc- 

 tion to their future place of abode, which they have previously picked out. 

 But this does not often happen, for they generally settle first, and sometimes 

 they remain settled but a few minutes, and take to parts unknown. I do not 

 know that all swarms that issue have a future abiding-place picked out; but 

 it is sure that some of them do, and it is also true that all swarms take some 

 steps in this direction, for they send out certain bees to rove the forest for 

 a hollow. Sometimes a swarm will remain on the settling-place for two or 

 three days, but usually they will remain there only a few hours or over one 

 night. 



Sometimes bees will naturally swarm excessively, and but little if any 

 surplus honey will be the result ; but it should not be allowed unless increase 

 is desired. The cause of so much swarming is due to the fact that the bees 

 haven't the proper room to store their surplus honey, and this can be over- 

 come to a great extent by supplying them this needed room. 



Swarms of bees should be hived as soon as they settle well; therefore 

 it is very necessary to have the hives in readiness ; and, besides, it is a nerv- 



