106 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 



WHETHER IS THE SWARMING OR NON-SWARMING SYSTEM 

 OP MANAGEMENT THE MOST PROFITABLE ? 



This question is of great importance, and will be con- 

 sidered as fully as our limits will permit. Tlie swarming 

 system of management is not only more profitable, but, 

 taking a run of years, is better every way, and more 

 natural, than the system tbat prevents swarming. 



One bee-keeper in the neighbourhood of Manchester 

 who writes on the subject, once said to me that " honey 

 and swarms could not be obtained from hives in the same 

 season." I venture to express a contrary opinion. 'Now, 

 during the last three years my best swarms every year 

 have risen in weight to 70 lb. each, and sometimes more, 

 whereas his non-swarmers have not approached that weight 

 — nay, my old stock-hives, after yielding one and two 

 swarms each, have been as heavy as his, which never 

 swarmed at all. All this has not been owing to their 

 being allowed to swarm, but partly to the size of the 

 hives and our system of management. 



But after making many trials we can state that in good 

 seasons for honey, a good early swarm wiU, at the end of 

 the season, weigh more than a hive that has never been 

 permitted to swarm at aU. A swarm put into an empty 

 hive is doubtless placed at a great disadvantage, and 



