THE COTTAGE AND FABM BEE KEEPER. 55 



ing to the method first detailed, "What, it may be asked, is the several 

 condition of the two hives ? In the new hive on the old stand is, or 

 ought to be, a powerful swarm of more than ordinary size, which, being 

 formed in the prime of the year, will work with astonishing vigor, 

 and increase rapidly in weight. This is what I have before termed 

 the spoliation swarm, whose entire plunder will take place about the 

 first week in August, if put into a small hive, and not intended for 

 preservation. Shortly after its establishment, that is, some time in the 

 course of the next week, it must be surmounted by another hive or 

 super of about the same dimensions in ordinary seasons. In the old 

 stock is no queen at present; but, doubtless, royal nymphs, or larvse, 

 of various ages, one or other of which will succeed to the vacant sov- 

 ereignty of the hive in a few days , if the swarm were forced at the 

 proper time. "When the bandage is unfastened on the third morning, 

 the bees by that time will long have ceased to forget their old queen, 

 their whole attention being now given to the wants of the rising 

 brood of royalty on which their hopes depend. If there chanced to 

 be no royal brood, (as it is always desirable there should be,) they 

 will already have set about rearing a queen artificially. Could the 

 interior of the hive be seen at this time, the rudiments of three or 

 more royal cells would be distinguished rising out of the centre of the 

 combs in different parts of the hive. I presume that in the present 

 day there are no sceptics to be found as to this singular fact in the 

 history of the bee — their power, I mean, to transform a worker egg 

 or worm into a queen. Should any such be a reader of these pages, 

 I can give him distinct assurange, that no less than three several instan- 

 ces of the rearing of artificial queens came under my notice last sum- 

 mer, and there are many witnesses to the fact. 



We will now follow the after treatment of these stocks. The new 

 swarm, (if intended for autumn plunder,) must be shortly enlarged by 

 additional hive room, and treated in general exactly in the manner 

 already pointed out in a former chapter for the management of year- 

 ling or spoliation swarms.* 



With respect to the old hive, out of which the old queen was driven, 

 together with the prime swarm, I differ from Dr. Scudamore as to the 

 best method in which it should be dealt with. His instructions on 



* See Appendix, Note G. 



