34 PLEASURABLE BEE-KEEPING. 



though the issue of a swarm from a particular stock 

 may cause annoyance. It is safe to say that, as a 

 rule, swarming means the loss of much honey, for the 

 bees are lazy for some days previous to the issue of a 

 swarm. This is not their fault, for they only prepare 

 for swarming when they are in want of room, and all 

 this laziness comes at a time when the work of every 

 bee is required in the storing of surplus. 



Swarming may be controlled, but not entirely pre- 

 vented. Seeing that want of room is invariably the 

 cause of swarms issuing, space for the storing of 

 surplus in advance of requirements must be given. 

 Occasionally, in spite of supers, swarms issue ; but 

 why seems to be a decided puzzle to the novice. 

 After supers are placed on the hives, and the bees 

 have commenced work therein, it will, in the majority 

 of cases, be continued unless there is, owing to 

 drought, a seriously diminished income, or dull, cold, 

 and wet weather has driven the bees from the supers 

 to the brood chamber. In both cases, but more 

 particularly the latter, the crowding of the bees in the 

 brood chamber causes the formation of queen cells, 

 and, though a change may take place in the weather 

 favourable to the secretion of nectar, a swarm is 

 almost sure to issue as soon as the queen cells are 

 sealed over. 



Cutting out all queen cells but one is a means of 

 preventing swarming often advocated ; but it is much 

 better to give that attention to the brood nest which 

 will tend to prevent the formation of queen cells. 



As soon as the bees are driven from the supers to 

 the brood chamber by a change of weather, more room 



