256 After Swarms Prevented^ 



nuclei (as already explained), and thus use these queen- 

 cells, he will at once give the old colony a fertile queen. 

 At the same time this practice secures only carefully reared 

 queens from his best colonies. As the queen usually destroys 

 all queen-cells, farther swarming is prevented. The method 

 of introduction will be given hereafter, though in such cases 

 there is very little danger incurred by giving them a queen 

 at once. If desired, the queen-cells can be used in forming 

 nuclei, in manner before described. If extra queens are 

 wanting, we have only to look carefully through the old 

 hive and remove all but one of the queen-cells. A little 

 care will certainly make sure work, as after swarming the 

 old hive is so thinned of bees that only carelessness will 

 overlook queen-cells in such a quest. Mr. Doolittle waits 

 till the eighth day, or till he hears the piping of the young 

 queen; then cuts out all queen-cells, when of course he 

 certainly inhibits second swarms. 



TO PREVENT SWARMING. 



As yet we can only partly avert swarming. Mr. Quinby 

 offered a large reward for a perfect non-swarming hive, and 

 never had to make the payment. Mr. Hazen attempted it, 

 and partially succeeded, by granting much space to the 

 bees, so that they should not be impelled to vacate for lack 

 of room. The Quinby hive already described, by the large 

 capacity of the brood chamber, and ample opportunity for 

 top and side storing, looks to the same end. Mr. Simmins, 

 of England, thinks he can prevent swarming by keeping 

 unoccupied cells between the brood nest and entrance to 

 the hive. Mr. Muth says if we always have empty cells 

 in the brood nest, swarming will seldom occur. Yet he 

 says "seldom." We may safely say that a perfect non- 

 swarming hive or system is not yet before the bee-keeping 

 public. The best aids toward non-swarming are shade, 

 ventilation and roomy hives. But as we shall see in the 

 sequel, much room in the brood chamber, unless we work 

 for extracted honey — by which means we may greatly 

 repress the swarming fever — prevents our obtaining honey 

 in- a desirable style. If we add sections, unless the connec- 

 tion is quite free— in which case the queen is apt to enter 



