QUEENS OF SECOND SWARMS JUNCTION. 319 



for it is demonstrated by Mr. Huish, that a very 

 good stock may be formed by the union of second 

 swarms. It however seldom happens, except in very 

 extensive apiaries, that two second swarms come off 

 at the same time, so as to enable the apiarian to take 

 advantage of the junction, and it is on such points 

 that the whole skill of the proprietor must be put 

 forth. The following particulars must principally 

 occupy his attention : the size of the swarm the 

 earliness or lateness of the season the richness or 

 poverty of the country in food -all of which must 

 be more or less consulted in second swarms. In the 

 management of the majority of cases, it would con- 

 tribute to the interest of the proprietor, and also to 

 the prosperity of the parent hive, to destroy the 

 queens of the second swarms, and return her emi- 

 grant subjects to their original domicile nor is this 

 operation attended with any difficulty. Second 

 swarms are seldom large, and whilst the bees are in 

 a cluster, on the place of their swarming, it will be a 

 very easy task to take the queen bee a prisoner, but 

 by no means should the captor immediately become a 

 regicide. Confine her for a day under a tumbler, or 

 other similar vessel, and in the meantime, return the 

 bees to the parent hive. A few hours will determine 

 if their former companions will receive them hospit- 

 ably, and if such be the case (and the contrary very 

 seldom happens) the murder of the imprisoned queen 

 must be the consequence. Instances are by no means 

 rare, in which second swarms have individually pros- 

 pered well, and have collected a sufficiency of food 

 to support them during the winter, 

 p 4 



