870 GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



queens, and especially on account of the man condition j. Swarming is the summit 

 baby nucleus in which the queens must in the development in brood-rearing on 

 await the awakening of the sexual instinct which, aside from the honey-flow, all suc- 

 and the mating, might cause inferior or cess depends. It is the brood which fur- 

 less fertile queens. Colonies (with such nishes the workers who at the right time are 

 queens do not reach the height of develop- to gather the crop. 



ment which must precede the swarming im- The better one understands how to guide 

 pulse. This is degeneration of the worst the develoiiment, tlie brood-rearing, to fur- 

 kind — not successful breeding. Our queen- ther his own ends, the greater the success, 

 breeding methods are moving on a declining When we (Gerstung) at the height of the 

 l^lane. We glory in methods that have sue- development receive a swarm of 6 to 7 

 ceeded in producing a non-swarming strain lbs., we consider this an extra addition to 

 while we have produced only a degenerate the crop. We are glad when our. colonies, 

 strain— -this strain which, by their not after having made the most of the honey- 

 coming out to swarm, show that nature has flow, give large heavy swarms. We know 

 condemned them to extinction, and this is tlie swarming colony is rejuvenated, and we 

 today considered an achievement of modern have a good productive colony more for the 

 beekeeping ! Beekeej^ers, go back to nature. next j-ear's crop. As a matter of course, 

 IS THE SWARMING IMPULSE REALLY AN IM- the beekeeper must understand how to keep 

 PEDIMENT TO SUCCESS ? tlie Control of the development in his hands. 

 Gerstung says, only for a bungler (Ger- Kempten, Bavaria, Germany. 



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THINKING IT OVER 



BY GRACE ALLEN 



A beekeeper sat by an open hive — 



On hill beyond hill how the day was alive! 



" He sorta sneered, that store clerk did, 

 In town the other day, 

 When I spoke up proud about my bees. 

 What made 'im do that-a-way? 



I aint slicked up when I work, that's true, — - 

 He's alius slicked up, hisself. 



But I wouldn't swap this I-talian queen 

 For all the duds on his shelf. 



It's pants 'n coats 'n shirts all day, 

 A-trying to make folks buy, 

 ' N me with my bees in the orchard here 

 A-watehin the rascals fly. 



Shet up in a store where he eaint well breathe. 

 With crowds 'n noises 'round, 

 '■ N me in the sun — with the hills like this — 

 ' N the bees the only sound. 



He sorta sneered, he sorta sneered — 

 What made 'im do that-a-way? 



Law me, T reckon he never see 

 A day like this ere day ! 



It's suns 'n hills 'n sechlike things, 



' N thinkin a bit, by gum. 

 That keeps a man frum sneerin at folks 



' N jes makes 'im wish he could hum !" 



The beekeeper smiled as he closed the hive. 

 On hill beyond hill — how the day was alive! 



