natukal akd artificial ikcbease, 153 



of tlie swarm, the queen matures but a limited number 

 of eggs, becoming reduced in size nearly to that of a 

 virgin queen, in order to be able to fly out with the 

 swarm, and upon the day of swarming, even the worker 

 bees are comparatively idle. Now, if second and third 

 swarms are allowed to issue, these hindrances are multi- 

 plied. The 2nd will issue 8 or 9 days after the first, and 

 the 3d, about 3 days later. In about 18 days from the 

 date of the first swarm, a young queen will become fertile, 

 and ready to commence laying. Thus it will be seen 

 that the colony has been destitute of a laying queen, for, 

 at least 18 days, at a season when a large working force 

 of bees is especially valuable. Allowing a deficiency of 

 1,000 eggs per day, which is a very moderate estimate for 

 a prolific queen, it would make a difEerence of 18,000 bees. 



In regions like California, where the swarming season 

 occurs before the general honey yield, swarms may be in- 

 creased, and brought to a condition to store honey rapidly 

 before the general harvest begins. There too, the increase 

 may be profitably large, with a proportionate gain in sur- 

 plus. But in our latitude, where the duration of the 

 yield is comparatively short, and the swarming season ia 

 simultaneous with it, a different system must be pursued. 

 A fact to be borne in mind at all times, is, that much 

 better proportionate results are reached, in strong colo- 

 nies, than when the bulk of bees is less. This is, of course, 

 subject to limitation. It is true in the quantity of honej 

 they will gather in summer, and consume in winter, in 

 the amount of brood they will rear, as well as in rapidity 

 of wax-secretion, and comb-building. Besides, they have 

 but one set of combs, and one entrance to protect against 

 their enemies. 



The motto adopted by all progressive writers, " Keep 

 all colonies strong," is one of the fundamental princi- 

 ples of success. To this I would add, "Each colony 

 ehould at all times possess a laying queen." As this can 



