126 THE PRACTICAL BEE GUIDE. 



220. Limiting Queen Rearing A fourth condition in the 



stock which is about to swarm, is the presence of queen cells ; 

 and it is sometimes recommended, as a preventive of swarm- 

 ing, to cut out all such cells. The advice is based upon the 

 theory that it is the mother-queen who causes the swarm by 

 stirring the bees up to it, and by leading them out ; that she 

 is impelled by her wrath at the rearing of young queens ; 

 and that, if the queen cells be destroyed by the bee-keeper, 

 the old queen will be placated, and the swarm be prevented. 

 But it is evident to careful observers that swarming generally 

 takes place, not at the instigation of the old queen, but against 

 her will ; tliat she does not lead the swarm out ; and that she 

 frequently shows a pronounced disinclination to leave her hive, 

 and, sometimes, has to be driven out by the bees. The swarm 

 becomes necessary by reason of the conditions referred to 

 above ; the bees prepare for it in the manner already described ; 

 and, cutting out the queen cells, while it will delay the swarm, 

 will not alone prevent it : further queen cells will be formed ; 

 the preparations will be continued ; and, the bees, always list- 

 less during such periods, will sacrifice much valuable time and 

 energy in those weeks of the year which, to the bee-keeper, 

 are most valuable. Therefore, while cutting out the queen 

 cells may be adopted in connection with the other preventive 

 measures, it will not, by itself, accomplish the desired object. 

 Sufficient room and ventilation must be given, and it should be 

 remembered that, if the various precautions be deferred until 

 the bees have felt the need of more room, the swarm will 

 probably issue in spite of all that the bee-keeper may do. (216). 



221. Prevention of Casts Casts may generally be prevented 



by removing all queen cells from the swarmed stock, giving 

 extra room, and introducing a fertile queen. (240 — 242). 



222. Artificial Swarming As a substitute for natural 



swarming, artificial swarming, in the hands of a capable bee- 

 keeper, offers many distinct advantages. It enables him (i) 

 To arrange, by careful selection, the increase of his stocks, 

 and that, always from his best queens: (2) To obtain early 

 swarms, and from stocks which, if left alone, might not swarm 

 naturally: (3) To prevent serious waste of time by stocks in 

 preparation for natural swarming: (4) To avoid excitement and 

 trouble securing and hiving swarms, and the risk of their 

 absconding altogether (211): (5) To provide swarms for sale, 

 as required (227); (6) To introduce strange queens to stocks 

 (298): and (7) To remove bees from infected combs, as in the 

 treatment of foul brood. (356). 



223. Conditions. — There are certain conditions which require 

 attention in all the following operations, viz. : — (i) The stocks 



