248 DR. miller's 



and if },ou don't mind the amount of work involved in returnmg 

 it half a dozen times or more, the old way is good. HeiL s another 

 way you may like better • When the swarm issues, return it and 

 kill the old queen. A week later destroy all queen-cells but one. 

 II you miss no cells there ought to be no more swarming. If you 

 hive the swarm in a box and wait twenty-four hours before re- 

 turning it to the mother colony, there will be more likelihood of 

 it remaining than if returned at once. 



Q, ily prime swarms invariably, after I hive them, leave the 

 hives and return to the parent colony. My hives are all new and 

 up to date, and I can't account for this. If you can cast a little 

 light on this subject it will be appreciated. 



A. That's just the way my bees do, and it's a good deal better 

 than to have queen, bees and all going off to return no more. The 

 reason my bees do so is because the queens' wings are clipped so 

 they cannot go with the swarms, and when a swarm finds out the 

 queen is not along there is nothing for it to do but to return to 

 the old home. Of course, I don't know anything about it, but as 

 you have things "all new and up to date," my guess would be that 

 you have lately begun beekeeping and have bought colonies with 

 queens whose wings have been clipped. If that isn't the right 

 answer, then I don't know what is the answer. It occasionally 

 happens, where queens are not clipped, that a swarm returns be- 

 cause something has happened to the queen so she cannot fly, 

 but to have it happen "invariably" with whole wings is something 

 bej'ond me. 



Swarms, Second. (See Also Afterswarms.) — Q. After the first 

 swarm issues, how soon can I look for another? 



A. .-\ second swarm usually issues about eight days after the 

 first, but the time may be less, and it may be more. The issuing 

 of a prime swarm is sometimes delayed by bad weather, and it 

 may be ik'la.\ ed by the queen failing for some reason to go with 

 the swarm. 



Swarms, Sprinkling. — (J. Do yuu think best to sprinkle bees 

 with water before putting them in the hive when they swarm? 



A. It is not a general custom, but if there is fear that the 

 swarm will go off, sprinkling will help to prevent it. 



Swarms, Value of. — [} Will a new swarm gather any surplus 

 honey tlie first season? 



A. Yes; as a general rule the swarm is the one to rely on 

 for a crop, it being put on the old stand after removing the old 

 liive to a new stand. 



