THE COTTAGE AND FARM BEE KEEPER. 51 



the presence, of drones is requisite in considerable force. As soon, in- 

 deed, as it is ascertained that these exist in any number in a hive, even 

 if still unhatehed, the operation may be performed without fear of ill 

 success, although, to insure the full prosperity of both swarm and pa- 

 rent stock, (especially the latter,) a good many of them ought first to 

 be seen coursing about in the open air, which they will be sure to do 

 in the middle of every warm day, some time between the hours of 10 

 a. Mt and 4 p. m. 



The desirableness of delay till these appear in sufficient numbers, is 

 based on the following considerations : — It is known that in general, 

 about the 20th day after the queen has begun her great laying of drone 

 eggs, the bees, if they deem it necessary, (either from foresight of her 

 majesty's approaching end, or of the probability of an excess of pop- 

 ulation over the hive accommodation,) commence the foundations of 

 royal cells, into each of which the queen, if her judgment coincides 

 with that of her subjects, deposits a female egg, with a certain interval 

 between each. The first royal egg, however, is seldom laid till many 

 drones are preparing to leave their cells, often not till some have actu- 

 ally appeared in the open air. The reasonableness, therefore, of wait- 

 ing till at least a week has elapsed after the first appearance of drones, 

 before compelling the issue of an artificial swarm, is at once evident, 

 as it is desirable that one or more royal eggs should at least be laid in 

 the hive before the queen mother leaves it, as well to spare the re- 

 maining bees the trouble of raising a sovereign artificially, (which is 

 further injurious to the prosperity of the hive, owing to the time that 

 must elapse before any brood can be perfected in it,) as to prevent the 

 liability of accident arising from the possible absence of eggs or suit- 

 able brood wherewith to raise such a queen. 



Let us then suppose that the amateur bee keeper has formed the 

 conclusion that one of his stocks is in a sufficiently forward state to be 

 operated upon — from the appearance of drones, the abundance of pop- 

 ulation, &c, and also that a favorable opportunity presents in the 



firmly in its place -with wax and propolis. If this method of artificial swarming he adop- 

 ted, the new stock so made, having a yaOng queen, should by all means, if heavy enough, 

 be preserved to another year. In this case, the old hive, if it be a Grecian one, shonld imme- 

 diately be surmounted by a spare super or large bee glass, and be treated in the autumn as 

 a yearling swarm. Should it show symptoms of swarming, drive out the bees, cut every 

 royal cell away, and return the population. 



