296 The beb-kbspbr's guide ; 



or four frames of brood to strengthen nuclei, replacing these 

 with frames with starters of foundation — with one that recently 

 swarmed, which was previously treated the same way. Thus 

 a colony that recently sent out a swarm, but retained their 

 queen, has probably, from the decrease of bees, loss of brood, 

 and removal of queen-celjs, lost the swarming-fever, and if we 

 give them plenty of room and ventilation, they will accept the 

 bees from a new swarm, and spend their future energies in 

 storing honey. If the swarming-fever is not broken up, we 

 shall only have to repeat the operation again in a few days. 



Still another modification, in case no increase of bees but 

 rather comb honey is desired, is recommended by such apia- 

 rists as Doolittle, Davis, and others. The queen is caged seven 

 days, the queen-cells in the hive are then destroyed, the queen 

 liberated, and everything is arranged for immense yields of 

 comb honey. In this case the queen is idle, but the bees seem 

 to have lost not one jot of their energy. I tried this plan many 

 years ago with great success, and recommended it to Mrs. Z(. 

 B. Baker, who prized it highly. Dr. C. C. Miller, instead of 

 caging the queen, places her with a nucleus on top of the old 

 hive, thus keeping her at work, by exchange of frames. After 

 seven days he destroys the queen-cells in the old hive and 

 unites the nucleus with it. Here the queen is kept at work, 

 the swarming impulse subdued, and a mighty colony made 

 ready for business. This plan slightly modified has the sanc- 

 tion of such admirable apiarists as Messrs. Elwood and 

 Hetherington. 



Two objections are sometimes raised right here. Suppose 

 several swarms issue at once, one of which is a second swarm, 

 which ■ of course has a virgin queen, then all will go ofl: 

 together, and our loss is grevous indeed. I answer that sec- 

 ond swarms are unprofitable, and should never be permitted. 

 We should be so vigilant that this fate would never befall us. 

 If we will not give this close attention without such stimulus, 

 then it were well to have this threatening danger hanging over 

 us. Again, suppose we are not right at hand when the swarm 

 issues, the queen wanders away and is lost. Yes, but if 

 undipped the whole colony would go, now it is only the queen. 

 Usually the queen gets back. If not, a little looking will 



