OUT-YABDS AND ITALIANIZING 77 



PREPARING FOR SWARMS. 



This work requires urgent attention, so the apiarist 

 abandons all other labour for the time being, to give the 

 swarms a helping hand. It will be noticed that this 

 question of swarming is left until early summer, not 

 because all swarming takes place at that period, but 

 because the majority of swarms issue during late spring 

 or early summer. Under exceptional circumstances a 

 swarm of bees has been known to leave its hive in early 

 winter, but these cases cannot be classed as normal. 



Previous to the swarming season, the apiarist should 

 have a number of extra hives with frames of foundation, 

 ready at hand. He will also require a few cages, which 

 are simply wire gauze cubes plugged at the ends with two 

 pine blocks. The introducing cages are very handy to 

 catch and hold queens while swarms are receiving 

 attention. To cage her majesty, remove the larger block 

 and stand the mouth of the wire portion over the queen. 

 Like the majority of insects she will run upwards; the 

 wooden plug is then replaced. It is advisable to see that 

 the hole in the opposite end — the candy or feed hole — 

 is plugged with wax or a small piece of wood before 

 imprisoning the queen. 



