SWARMS AND SWABMING 



87 



cluster. The amount of water "turned" hy the over- 

 lapping wings of hees in a swarm is astonishing. 

 However, clipping wings is cousiderahly cheaper, and 

 the presence of the proprietor is not essential. (See 

 "Working of Out-yards," page 129). 



Fig. 44. Sliad,; Board for Summer. 



Water lightly sprayed over a swarm hefore hiving 

 helps to prevent a large number of bees taking wing. 

 No two years are alike in regard to swarming, so the 

 vagaries of the season usually determine the method to 

 be employed. Old (jueens are more liable to swarm than 

 young ones. Some years (usually considered a bad sign) 

 there are very few swarms ; other years it is almost 

 impossible to prevent a sur];lus of them. The chief thing 

 to know is the primal cause. When this is determined 

 the line of treatment is plain. Tlie mighty rousing exodus 

 of insect colonists seldom fails to move the bee-farmer 

 in more ways than one. 



