98 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



CHAPTEE XXIV. 



^'^ATDEAL SWARMING. 



This has been described in tbe first part of this work ; 

 but as there are so many things in natural swarming that 

 should be well understood, we trust we shall be excused 

 if we venture to examine briefly a few of them. 



The time or season of swarming depends on both the 

 locality and the management of the hives. Some places 

 are warmer and earlier than others. Some places have 

 more spring flowers than others. In the southern parts 

 of our island, swarming in ordinary seasons should 

 commence in the beginning of May. Much depends on 

 autumn treatment. If hives kept for stock are well fiUed 

 with bees in autumn, they will be ready to swarm four 

 weeks sooner than those that are left to their own re- 

 sources. "We have already touched on this point, and may 

 return to it again. 



When hives are ready to swarm and mean to do so, eggs 

 are set in royal cells generally about four days before the 

 swarms issue. The combs are well filled with brood from 

 the egg up, in all stages. The hives are choke-full of bees. 

 There is much noise, and the internal heat is very great. 

 They may or may not cluster outside. Usually small 

 hives do cluster and large ones do not. 



Hives, whether large or small, that have but little 

 honey in them, are much better flUed with bees than 

 hives containing a good deal of honey. Bees do not sit 

 closely on honeycomb, even on the eve of swarming. 

 Those with little honey in them yield the largest swarms, 

 and afterwards remain stronger in bees. First swarms 

 vary in weight from 4 to 8 lb. each ; second swarms, 

 from l^ to 5 lb. The second swarms from small hives 



