300 THE bbE-kkbper'S guide; 



necessary from 8 a.m. till 2 p.m.; or in very best weather from 

 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., or even later. Of course there is relief on 

 rainy days. 



Farmers can keep many colonies and attend to their farm 

 work as usual. They have only to have a boy or girl to catch 

 and cage the queens — the " gude wife " may do this — and 

 inform at noon or night what colonies have swarmed. When 

 a colony swarms, the impulse seems to be general, and often a 

 half dozen colonies will be on the wing in a trice. These will 

 very often — generally, in truth — cluster together. In this 

 case, to find the queens is well nigh impossible, and we can 

 only divide up the bees into suitable colonies, and as soon as 

 we find any starting queen-cells, give them a queen. Of course 

 we may lose every queen but one. In view of this trouble, 

 and the expense and doubtful practicality of the various 

 swarm -catchers in vogue, I would say. Clip the queen's 

 wing. 



If no more colonies are desired, the swarm may be given 

 to a colony which has previously swarmed, after removing 

 from the latter all queen-cells, and adding to the room by 

 putting on the sections, and removing some frames of brood 

 to strengthen nuclei. These frames may be replaced with 

 empty combs, foundation, or frames with starters. We may 

 even return the bees to their old home, by taking the same 

 precautionary measures, with a good hope that storing and 

 not swarming will engage their attention in future ; and if we 

 change their position, or better, exchange their position with 

 that of a nucleus, we shall be still more likely to succeed in 

 overcoming the desire to swarm. A swarm may be given to a 

 colony that was hived as a swarm a day or two before with 

 great safety, by shaking all the bees of both in front of the 

 hive. Some seasons, usually when honey is being gathered 

 each day for long intervals, but not in large quantities, the 

 desire and determination of some colonies to swarm is im- 

 placable. Room, ventilation, changed position of hive, each 

 and all will fail. Then we can do no better than to gratify 

 the propensity by giving the swarm a new home, and make 

 an effort. 



