iL8. PROFITABLE BEE-KEEPING 



becomes more abundant. The food supply, which 

 has been reduced but little during the winter 

 months, now dwindles rapidly with so many, young 

 m6uths to feed, and the population of the hive 

 begins to show a marked increase. This increase . 

 goes steadily on, and with the first fruits of the 

 new season's honey, gathered from the willows 

 and fruit bloom, breeding quickly rises towards 

 its height. The hive now becomes very con- 

 gested, and drone eggs will . be laid< Towards 

 the end of April drones will be hatching out in 

 forward colonies, showing that the season is com- 

 mencing in earnest. With May, in, good colonies 

 will be packed to the verge of suffocation, and 

 queen-cells will be built in which the queen will 

 lay eggs, and when these are seen it is a sign 

 that the bees are thinking of swarming. 



If adverse weather comes on these cells may, be 

 pulled down, but otherwise if they are completed 

 a swarm may be expected at the capping of the 

 first cell, providing the weather is suitable. 



This swarm will be headed by, the old queen. 

 On the ninth day, after, the first swarm leaves the 

 hive a second swarm or cast will probably be 

 thrown off, headed by the young queen first 

 hatched, and if no restraint has been put upon 

 the bees other small after-swarms may issue. 

 These after-swarms are headed by unfertile queens, 

 which, after hiving, fly forth to meet the drone. 

 And it should be thoroughly understood that a 

 queen only leaves the hive for two purposes^ either. 



