ARTIFICIAL BWAKMING. 143 



CHAPTER X. 



ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 



THE numerous efforts made for more than fifty years, 

 to dispense with natural swarming, show the anxiety of 

 Apiarians to find -some better mode of increasing their 

 colonies. 



Although, by the control of the combs, bees may be 

 propagated by natural swarming, with a rapidity and cer- 

 tainty hitherto unattainable, still, there are difficulties in- 

 herent to this mode of increase, and therefore incapable of 

 being removed by any kind of hive. Before describing 

 the various methods which have been contrived for in- 

 creasing colonies by artificial means, these difficulties will 

 be briefly enumerated, so that every bee-keeper may decide 

 intelligently which is his best way to multiply his stocks. 



1. The numerous swarms lost every year is a strong 

 argument against natural swarming. 



An eminent Apiarian has estimated, that taking into 

 'account alt who keep bees, one-fourth of the best swarms 

 are lost every season. While some bee-keepers seldom 

 lose a swarm, the majority suffer serious losses by the 

 flight of their bees to the woods ; and it is next to impos- 

 sible, even for the most careful, to prevent such occur- 

 rences, if their bees are allowed to swarm. 



2. Natural swarming is objectionable, on account of the 

 time and labor which it requires. 



The Apiary must be closely watched during the whole 

 swarming-season ; and if this business is intrusted to 

 thoughtless children, or careless adults, many swarms will 



