CHAPTER X. 

 INCREASE OF COLONIES. 



NATURAL SWARMING. 



An abundant secretion of honey and general prosperity of the col- 

 onywith combs crowded with bees and brood are the immediate 

 conditions which incite a colony of bees to swarm. If a colony in 

 prosperous condition be found when the gathering season has fairly 

 opened, with eggs or Iarva3 in partly finished queen cells, a swarm may 

 be expected in a few days should the weather continue favorable. The 

 first one from a given hive usually issues within twenty-four to forty- 

 eight hours after the sealing of the first queen cell. In the case of 

 strong colonies this may occur in favored situations in the North early 

 in May, in the Middle States in April, and in the extreme South in 

 March. But most of the swarms will come, in each section, a month 

 later. When the flow of honey is prolonged the period during which 

 swarms may issue is also extended, and in case a second flow occurs in 

 midsummer, after an interruption, a second swarming period may occur. 



The outward indications immediately preceding swarming are a 

 partial cessation of field work on the part of colonies that have been 

 industriously gathering and the clustering or loitering of the workers 

 about the entrances at times when they have usually been engaged in 

 collecting and when other colonies no more populous are at work. 

 Apparently many are awaiting the signal to migrate, while some seem 

 not to have caught the spirit, but continue their field work. Suddenly 

 great excitement seizes the workers that happen to be in the hive at 

 the time. They rush forth pellmell, accompanied by the old queen, and 

 after circling about for some minutes cluster on some neighboring tree 

 or shrub. 



It very rarely happens that a swarm fails to cluster before leaving, 

 but it may do so if it has swarmed before and returned to the hive 

 because the queen failed to accompany it. Spraying water on the 

 leaders or advance portion of the swarm from a force pump, firing a 

 gun among them, or throwing the reflection from a mirror on them will 

 disconcert the absconding swarm and nearly always cause the bees to 

 settle, but the remedy must be at hand and applied instantly. 



When a swarm has fairly settled it is best to hive it as soon as possible, 

 lest others coming out may join it, occasioning a loss of queens, and 

 sometimes of bees, or much trouble in separating them. The operation 

 of hiving may appear very formidable to the novice and attended with 



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