THE beekeepers' DIRECTORY. 9 1 



moving all the queen-cells as soon as the first swarm has issued 

 and introducing a young fertile queen. In some cases this would 

 be a great job. Suppose, for instance, there are a large number 

 of sections on the hive a swarm issues from and the bees work- 

 ing in them. Who would care to look over twenty colonies each 

 day for cells ? Another objection to clipping the queens is this : 

 Suppose a swarm issues in the absence of the beekeeper, how is 

 the fact to be known ? Should the queen fall to the ground when 

 she comes out, and one of those large, plump toads, such as are 

 .found in all gardens at swarming time, gobbles her ladyship, 

 how is the fact of the loss of the queen to be known except by a 

 thorough search of the combs ? The same difficulty that would 

 be encountered in destroying queen cells when a colony swarms, 

 would be present in -th^s case. A thorough search of 'the combs 

 might not reveal the presence of the queen, even though she had 

 returned to the hive.' If not found, one would be apt to say, 

 especially if he had received several good stings, " well I guess 

 she is there," and let it go at that. While all this is going on, 

 Mr. Toad, giving a knowing wink, would say, " clip all the queens, 

 I am very fond of that sort of food." 



If a colony swarms whose queen is cUpped it will be necessary 

 to drop all work and attend to the bees. Then suppose several 

 colonies swarm having queens whose wings havfe been clipped, 

 what is to be done? Those who practise clipping will say. Why ! 

 we so arrange it that all queens can return to the hive ; we do 

 no running, and have no trouble about it. Very well ; now please 

 tell us how you manage your apiary after the queen and bees have 

 returned in oirder to prevent any further swarming. 



I am opposed to clipping the wings of any queens, as I be- 

 lieve there is a better method for controlling the swarming fever, 

 and for handling bees after a swarm issues. 



Heversing to prevent swarming. 



Reversing the brood-combs to prevent swarming has been 

 practised to some extent and found impracticable. To prevent 

 and break up the swarming fever it is necessary to reverse the 

 brood-combs as often as once in three day^. Such a practice 

 no doubt would so upset the bees (by destroying the queen cells, 

 or the larval queens), that no swarms would issue. 



At the time reversing should be practised the bees are work- 

 ing or at least should be working in the sections. Well, now how 



