162 NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 



good. When one is found, secure her, and put with those 

 ■without one. Should you fail to find a queen, and ])e 

 unable to make a division in consequence, or resolve to 

 let them remain together, it is unnecessary to put them 

 in any larger hive than usual ; but boxes sliould bo 

 immediately put on, which should bo changed for empty 

 ones, as fast as they are filled. 



SWARMS RETURNING TO THE OLD HIVE. 



Occasionally a swarm will issue, and in a few minutes 

 return to the old stock. The most common cause is the 

 inability of the old queen to fly, on account of her burden 

 of eggs, or imperfect wings. I have sometimes, after the 

 swarm had returned, found the queen near the hive, and 

 put her back ; and the next day she would come out 

 again, and fly without difficulty, probably having dis- 

 charged some of her eggs. 



Sometimes a swarm will issue and return three or four 

 days in succession, but this may generally be remedied, as 

 it is often owing to some inability of the queen ; and slie 

 may frequently be found while the swarm is leaving, out- 

 side the hive, unable to fly. In such circumstances, have 

 a queen cage ready and secure her as soon as she appears. 

 Get the empty hive for the swarm, and a largo cloth, and 

 put down a bottom-board a few feet from' the stock. The 

 Bwarm is sure to 6ome back, and the first bees that alight 

 on the hive will set up the call. As soon as you perceive 

 this, lose no time in setting the old stock on the board at 

 one side, covering it with the cloth. Put the new one in 

 its place on the stand, and the queen in it ; in a few min- 

 utes the swarm will bo in the new hive, when it can be 

 removed and the old one replaced. 



AFTER-SWARMS. 



After-swarms are all that issue after the first, called 

 second, third, etc., fov convenience. Whenever, in a 



