32 THE CONTROLLABLE BEE HIVE 



bees will store when not allowed to swarm, and fed 

 judiciously ; ample box room being provided, ot 

 easy access, so that all the bees have room to work ; 

 and by this plan, we are not constantly watching 

 and waiting for swarms with uncertainty through- 

 out the entire summer, for we know with certainty, 

 when and where to look for swarms. In my plan, 

 the swarming properties of bees are effectively con- 

 trolled, without frequently disturbing or overhaul- 

 ing them, but by observing rules strictly in accord- 

 ance with the habits and instincts of bees.* 



If you wish your bees in Controllable Hives to 

 swarm, keep the partition in place at the sides of 

 the brood section, and the honey board over the top ; 

 or in other words, keep the bees confined in their 

 labors to the central or brood section of the hive. 

 Now, if you wish them to swarm in any particular 

 week of the swarming season, ten days before, re- 

 move the old queen. [It is well to keep her, and 

 to do so, take with her about a pint of bees, and 



*Here let rac be clearly understood. I admit that beee will eomctimes 

 flwarm, witli abundant room for work in tbeir boxes. Yet I claim that 

 on my plan, all increase by swarming may be prevented without great 

 trouble or 'perplexity, such as has heretofore attended all attempts to 

 bring about this greatly to be desired object. If a person commences 

 bee keeping, with a certain number of swarms In Controllable Hives, 

 and in early spring gives the bees access to the side boxes, and later, 

 after they commence work in them, gives the bees access to the top 

 boxes, giving them otherwise ordinary care, (except to feed if desired,) 

 but a small proportion will swarm on the everagc, yearly. Much the 

 larger portion will work in the boxes without swarming out, and give a 

 handsome yield of surplus box honey, the yield of course being governed 

 by the amount of feed given them, and the yield from flowers, etc. But 

 if increase of stocks is preferred, rather than surplus honey — if the 

 bees are not given access to the boxes, but confined in their labors to the 

 brood section of the hive, being fed as directed , nearly every one will 

 swarm, and swarm early. 



