SWARMING AND HIVIKG. Ill 



tions, it is evident that swarming, so far from being the 

 forced or unnatural event which some imagine, is one, 

 which could not possibly be dispensed with, in a state of 

 nature. 



Let us now inquire under what circumstances swarm- 

 ing ordinarily takes place. 



The time when new swarms may be expected, depends, 

 of course, upon the climate, the forwardness of the season, 

 and the strength of the stocks. In our Northern and 

 Middle States, they seldom issue before the latter part of 

 May ; and June may there be considered as the great 

 swarming month. In Brownsville, Texas, on the lower 

 Rio Grande, bees often swarm quite early in March. 



In the Spring, as soon as a hive well filled* with 

 comb, can no longer accommodate its teeming population, 

 the bees prepare for emigration, by building a number of 

 royal cells. These cells are begun about the time that 

 the drones make their appearance in the open air; and 

 when the young queens arrive at maturity, the males are 

 usually very numerous. 



The first swarm is invariably led off by the old queen, 

 unless she has died from accident or disease, when it is ac- 

 companied by one of the young ones reared to supply her 

 loss. The old mother, unless delayed by unfavorable 

 weather, usually leaves soon after one or more of the royal 

 cells are sealed over. There are no signs from which 

 the Apiarian can predict the certain issue of & first swarm. 

 For years, I spent much tune in the vain attempt to dis- 

 cover some infallible indications of first swarming ; until 

 facts convinced me that there can be no such indications. 



* In our Northern and Middle States, bees seldom swarm unless the hive Is 

 filled with comb ; in Southern latitudes, however, the swarming instinct seems to 

 be much more powerful. In Matamoras and Brownsville, I have seen many 

 colonies issue from hives only partially filled with comb. 



