SWARMING.—Chapter XI. 
at least a desire for expansion. It should also be noted that colonies with 
old queens are more likely to swarm than those having young queens. 
Indications of Swarming. 
As the swarming season comes on, the beginner should watch for 
signs of the forthcoming swarm. The clustering of bees on the outside of 
the hive is one of the general signs, although not a certain one, as bees 
may cluster on the outside because of hot or sultry weather, or because there 
is no nectar to be had from the flowers the field workers may stay at home 
instead of fruitlessly searching for nectar. But if a colony has been busy 
at work and then quits work without evident reason, while other colonies 
continue busy, at the same time clustering on the outside, swarming is 
probably near at hand. The most certain sign of swarming, if present, 
can be learned by an examination of the hive. If queen-cells containing 
eggs or queen-cells containing larvae are found in very strong colonies at 
the beginning of, or during, the honey flow, the bees are probably con- 
templating swarming. They usually issue from the hive at about the time 
the first queen-cells are capped, though Italians sometimes swarm before 
if the weather is quite warm. 
Preparing to Hive the Swarm. 
When a swarm issues it should be hived just as soon after the cluster 
forms as possible, whether the queen is clipped or not. For, if the queen 
is clipped, she cannot join the cluster, and it may accordingly break up and 
return to the old hive before the beekeeper has had time to hive it. On 
the other hand, if the queen is not clipped she will be with the cluster, and 
the swarm will therefore be likely to leave for a new home in some near-by 
woods or other possible retreat at any time after the cluster forms. 
Therefore, whether one clips his queens or not, it will be necessary to 
make certain preparations for hiving the:swarm before it issues. Even be- 
fore the swarming season sets in, ‘it is’ well for the beginner to provide one 
extra hive for every one of the few colonies he may have, in case he plans 
to allow natural swarming for increase. He should also have ready in 
advance frames with drawn combs, or, lacking these, frames with comb 
foundation (full sheets) with-which to fill the new hive. In case the 
queen’s wings are clipped (as they should be), the beginner will also need a 
queen cage. Jf he has no such cages he can easily make a little box out of 
wire window-screen or mosquito netting drawn tightly over a small box 
frame, which will serve the purpose of caging the clipped queen during 
the short time necessary to effect the capture of the swarm. And, in addi- 
tion to these necessities, of course, the beginner will also want his veil, his 
gloves and his smoker in readiness. 
Hiving a Swarm Having a Clipped Queen. 
First, let us suppose that the swarm has issued from a colony whose 
queen has had her wings clipped. After the swarm has. left the hive the 
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