124 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



had been set out for them to cluster on, the bees which 

 had returned on the first occasion, did the same thing 

 again, drawing with them the rest of their companions. 

 The only way in which we could obtain a single swarm, 

 was by covering with slieets all the hives in the Apiary 

 as soon as one swarmed, and thus the bees, being unable 

 to enter them, were compelled to alight ! It would be 

 difficult to find a better illustration of the folly of neglect- 

 ing the old adage, " A stitch in time saves nine." 



After-swarms, or casts these names are given to all 

 swarms after the first seriously reduce the strength of the 

 parent-stock ; since by the time they issue, nearly all the 

 brood left by the old queen has hatched, and no more 

 eggs can be laid until all swarming is over. It is a 

 wise arrangement, that the second swarm does not ordi- 

 narily issue until all the eggs left by the first queen are 

 hatched, and the young mostly sealed over, so as to 

 require no further feeding. Its departure earlier than 

 this, would leave too few laborers to attend to the wants 

 of the young bees. If, after swarming, the weather sud- 

 denly becomes chilly, and the hive is thin, or the Apiarian 

 continues the ventilation which was needed only for a 

 crowded colony, the old stock being unable to maintain the 

 requisite heat, great numbers of the brood often perish. 



The effect on the profits of the Apiary, of too frequent 

 swarming, is discussed in the next chapter. If the bee- 

 keeper wants no casts, he can easily prevent their issue 

 from my hives. About five days after the first swarm 

 comes out, the parent-stock may be opened, and all the 

 queen-cells removed, except one. If done earlier than 

 this, the bees may start others, in the place of those re- 

 moved. Those only who have thoroughly tried both 

 plans, can appreciate how much better this is, than to 

 attempt to return the after-swarms to the parent hive. 



