318 
THE BEE-KEEPER’S MANUAL. 
We may append the following excellent precautions 
as to artificial swarming, which are condensed from 
Mr. Cheshire’s “Practical Bee-Keeping” :— 
1. 
bo 
° 
There must either be drones or sealed drone 
brood in the hive before a swarm is attempted 
(otherwise a queen already fertilised must be 
supplied to the swarm). 
Honey must be abundant, or the bee-keeper must 
be prepared to feed constantly. 
A swarm without a fertile queen must be sup- 
plied with ready-formed combs, as it will make 
only drone-comb itself. 
An artificial swarm must either occupy the old 
stand, or be sent to a distance of not less than a 
mile or two (not a universal rule, see pp. 311, 312). 
If left without either a queen or brood, such 
swarm will disperse among the neighbouring 
hives. 
The best stocks should always be selected to 
swarm from. 
. The mouths of stocks swarmed from should be 
partially closed to preserve from chill and 
against robbers. 
. Stocks left accidentally too bare of bees should 
be fed with very thin syrup, and if necessary 
confined (merely opening the flight-hole for a 
short fly late in the afternoon, and closing it 
again after dark). 
Supplying new Queens.—This operation is often 
closely connected with those of the previous section, 
but is perhaps of more common adoption at the present 
