BEE-KEEPING 



241 



colony be sufficiently strong, this young queen will lead 

 out a second swarm, and, in case no further swarming is 

 decided upon, the next queen which emerges will be per- 

 mitted, and even assisted, by the workers in destroying 

 the remaining queen-cells. The bee-keeper often takes 

 advantage of this opportunity to secure from the numer- 

 ous cells formed, surplus queens for colonies that have 

 chanced to lose their own. 



If the new queens are not removed as soon as they 

 come out of their cells, the ruling queen will seek them 

 out, and sting them to death. 



When the bees "swarm," they gather about the queen 

 in a black, buzzing mass, and may alight on the limb of a 

 tree. As soon as possible, spread out a white cloth under 

 the tree. Set upon this a clean, cool hive and shake the 

 bees in front of it, propping up 

 the hive so as to let them enter. 

 The limb may be cut from the 

 tree with the adhering bees, or 

 they may be shaken directly into 

 a large basket and poured out in 

 front of the empty hive. A comb 

 containing unsealed brood, if 

 placed in the hive, will serve as a 

 great attraction to them. Their 

 strong sense of smell will guide 

 them toward it and they will 

 enter their new home joyfully. 

 be given at both the top and bottom of the hive, since 

 the bees are usually much heated by the excitement of 

 swarming. 



G. & M. Ag. 16. 



FIG. 147. Honeycomb. 



Plenty of air should 



