256 MARYLAND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
bé accomplished by leaving only a sufficient number of frames as will 
éfiable the bees to form a compact cluster, filling the whole available 
Space. The space at the side of the hive should be filled in with a chaff 
cushion, or a dummy packed with sawdust or some similar materials. 
The entrance also should be sufficiently contracted. 
It is believed that weak colonies are best taken care of by iene 
built up to strong colonies by feeding and contracting. However, if 
for any reason this is not desirable, the weak colony may be united to 
a stronger colony by being set over it. Smoke both colonies first, and 
cage the queen desired, if each colony has a queen.. This plan can be 
used to save a colony that is queenless in early spring. 
SWARMING., 
Stimulative feeding and other operations for increasing the strength 
of colonies tend to bring on swarming as the season progresses. Other 
factors influencing the time of swarming are locality and seasonal 
variation. The causes operating to induce swarming, are not suff- 
ciently known. Reasons that seem to be sufficient to explain swarming 
at one time are insufficient at other times. It would seem that if the 
bees increase to such an extent that the colony becomes crowded and 
overheated swarming is very often apt to result particularly if a honey 
flow is on. 
Reference has been made previously to the use of large hives as a 
means of controlling swarming. Lack of sufficient ventilation as a 
natural accompaniment of an overcrowded condition of the colony, 
may be partly responsible for the issuance of a swarm. Swarming can 
be controlled, but cannot be prevented. 
Swarming may be profitable by yielding returns in an increase in the 
number of colonies if this is desired. On the other hand it may be a 
means of actual loss to the bee keeper, in reducing the honey yield. 
This will be understood when it is realized that a colony that divides 
its force by swarming in the height of the honey flow, can be made to 
yield only a part of what it would have, had it not swarmed. More- 
over there is the additional labor required in taking care of the swarm 
which is a considerable item. 
CARE OF SWARMS. 
One of the first steps to be taken in swarm management is that of 
clipping the wings of the queen. This can be done by holding the 
queen between the thumb and the index finger of the left hand. and 
cutting off the wings of one side with a sharp pair of scissors. Some 
think that the queen is better able to maintain her balance on the 
combs if the wings are cut on both sides. When the swarm issues, 
the queen being unable to fly is left behind, and is usually found crawl- 
ing around near the hive entrance. Because of the ahsence of the aveen, 
the bees will return in a few minutes, unless by chance they have a 
virgin queen. The old hive is now moved to one side and a new one 
containing full sheets of foundation is put in its place. The queen is 
