and its Economic Management, 171 



Swarming without Increase. 



Where a swarm is not seen to issue, a glance around at the 

 entrances of the hives only should show the bee-keeper from 

 which it came. Hitherto, all was life and activity, but look ! 

 here ' is your hive with the entrance clear of bees, and but a 

 few returning, while hardly one is Seen to ■ issue ; it is the 

 " calm after a storm."- A closer inspection of the hive will 

 reveal the true state of affairs, and now remove all but one or 

 two of the combs, to another hive standing by the original, 

 with the entrance turned away from the same. Secure the 

 swarm in a skep or any other convenient article, standing the 

 same upon the ground with clear space for ventilation under, 

 and shade above. As soon as most of the bees have entered 

 or clustered about the skep, carry the same to their original 

 location and shake them into the hive, having previously 

 arranged six or seven frames with full sheets of foundation, or 

 J-inch strips of such ; and not more than two frames of brood 

 near the centre, with dummies at either side. 



The sections are to be replaced on the new swarm which 

 will soon receive so many bees in addition from the removed 

 combs that the remaining population will give up any idea of 

 again swarming, and will destroy all but one queen. When 

 the latter is mated and laying, the brood will be hatched, when 

 the old queen left with the swarm is to be destroyed, and on 

 the following evening unite the two lots with the young queen 

 presiding. The united stock should not have more than ten 

 or eleven frames in all, while the remainder of the broodless 

 combs can be used for extracting purposes. 



Where more than one young queen may be desired, break 

 up the removed combs into the necessary number of nuclei 

 with a queen cell to each on the eighth day after swarming, 

 and re-unite as soon as the queens can be appropriated. 



For obtaining one swarm from each stock, and in desiring 

 to 



