NATURAL SWARMING. 57 



latest 16 days from the issue of the first swarm; and 

 Langstroth says, if during this period these notes are not 

 heard, it is an infallible indication that the first hatched 

 Queen has no rivals, and that swarming is over for the 

 season in that stock. 



The second swarm usually issues on the second or third 

 day after the piping is heard, though when the weather 

 is unfavourable it may sometimes delay coming out until 

 the fifth day. When using frame hives the issue of second 

 and later swarms may always be prevented by destroying 

 the Queen cells. Too frequent swarming is exceedingly 

 injurious, as it leaves the original colony very weak, and 

 the swarms are in the same condition ; in fact, it divides 

 a thriving stock into a number of weak ones, which, 

 collectively, will not be so productive as one strong 

 colony ; therefore, unless under exceptional circum- 

 stances, after swarms should be discouraged. From a 

 stock which swarms more than once no surplus honey 

 can be expected, the largest returns of honey being from 

 the hives which have not swarmed at all. 



I will now suppose the swarm has issued, settled down, 

 and all become quiet. The next thing to do is to hive 

 it. Whatever hive is intended to become their perma- 

 nent domicile, a straw skep is the best and handiest 

 thing in which to bring home the Bees. Let the skep be 

 clean and free from loose and ragged straws. If the 

 Bees are intended to remain in it, see that the flight 

 aperture is neatly cut, and the feeding hole well bunged 

 up. Many persons run two sticks across the hive, at 

 right angles to one another, to hold up the combs, and 

 drench the inside of the hive with sugared water or beer 

 at the same time rubbing it round well with a bunch of 

 sweet herbs. To the syrup I have no objection, although 

 it is unnecessary ; but the sticks and herbs are far better 



