DADANT SYSTEM OF BEEKEEPING 71 



method. But the 1 1-2 inch spacing gives 1-8 of an inch addi- 

 tional between all the combs for the bees to cluster or move 

 about during the breeding season. This multiplied by the height 

 and length of the hive and by the number of frames gives an 

 addition of 162 cubic inches of clustering space or ventilation, 

 as the case may be. Think of the large number of bees which 

 may be accommodated in such a space. 



The standard hives of the present day are nearly all of the 

 narrow kind. Nevertheless, the broader spacing is much the 

 better, for the above named reason and also because it gives 

 easier manipulation and more clustering space for the colony 

 in winter. As we have said, we used the wider spacing for years, 

 but did not realize that our success in swarm prevention was in 

 part due to this spacing. It is undoubtedly of great advantage 

 in the prevention of swarming. 



Let it not be understood that we lay any claims to the total 

 prevention of swarming. That is a goal perhaps never to be 

 attained. Neither do we lay any claim to breeding a non-swarm- 

 ing strain. But when some of our most practical beekeepers, 

 such as we have met in the East, acknowledge, as one did, having 

 had as many as 18 swarms out, at the same hour, in one apiary, 

 we believe there is need generally of a more thorough understand- 

 ing of the causes of natural swarming. 



The advantages of this method consist in doing away with 

 numerous hive manipulations during the honey crop, such as 

 cutting out queen-cells, taking out brood, shifting colonies, 

 returning swarms to the old hive, etc. All the required work, 

 outside of increasing the opportunities for ventilation and adding 

 supers, has to be done during the dull season. We know that 

 those who have excessive swarming, if they try these conditions, 

 will find themselves greatly relieved by the results. Besides, 

 they may be able to discover additional requirements, for there 

 is always something more to be learned. If we are to judge of 

 future progress by the past, there are endless opportunities for 

 more knowledge, endless chances for progress. 



