30 THE CONTROLLABLE HIVE 
being provided, of easy access, so that all the bees have 
room to work; and by this plan, we are not constantly 
watching and waiting for swarms with uncertainty through- 
out the entire summer, for we know with certainty, when 
and where to look for swarms. In my plan, the swarm- 
ing properties of bees are effectively controlled, without 
frequently disturbing or overhauling them, but by observ- 
ing rules strictly in accordance with the habits and 
instincts of bees.* 
If you wish your bees in Controllable Hives to swarm, 
keep the partition in place at the sides, of the brood 
section, and the honey board over the top; or in other 
words, keep the bees confined in their labors to the 
central or brood section of the hive. Now, if you wish 
them to swarm in any particular week of the swarming 
season, ten days before, remove the old queen. [It is 
well to keep her, and to do so take with her about a 
*Here let me be clearly understood. I admit that bees will sometimes 
swarm, with abundant room for workin their boxes. Yet L claim that on my 
plan, all increase by swarming may be prevented without great trouble or 
perplexity, such as has heretofore attended all attempts to bring about this 
greatly to be desired object. If a person commences bee keeping, with a 
certain number of swarms in Controllable Hives, and in early spring gives 
the bees access to the side boxes, and later, after they commence work in 
them, gives the bees access to the top boxes, givivg them otherwise ordinary 
care, (except to feed if desired,) but a small proportion will swarm on the aver- 
age yearly. Much the larger portion wil] work in the boxes without swarm- 
ing out, and give a handsome yield of surplus box honey, the yield of course 
being governed{by the amount of feed given them, and the yield from flowers, 
ete. But if increase of stocksis preferred, rather than surplus honey—if the 
bees are not given access to the boxes, but confined in their labors to the 
brood section of the hive, being fed as directed, nearly every one will swarm, 
and swarm early. After long experience, however, I recommend putting 
on the boxes early, we shall thus, in most cases, get a greater profit than 
otherwise. 
