172 A Modern Bee-Farm 



Prevent After-swarms, 



proceed in the same way, except that the removed combs and 

 bees are to be placed at a distance from the old position, and 

 no uniting takes place. This plan of obtaining one swarm and 

 throwing the whole working force with the same, while making 

 it a certainty that the other portion will cause no. further 

 trouble was well known to, and practised by, most of the old 

 masters. In this case, there is no tirne wasted in cutting out 

 queen cells, an operation that cannot be tolerated in a modern 

 honey -producing apiary. Should there be any fear of the^bees 

 being strong enough to swarm again, a few more shaken off 

 with the new swarm will settle that matter. As soon as the 

 young queen, or one already on hand, has six or seven combs 

 crowded with brood, supers may be placed on her hive also, at 

 the same time giving two more ernpty combs or foundation 

 near the centre. Upon removal of the sections there will 

 probably be hardly an ounce of honey in the stock combs, 

 when another empty comb or two must be inserted and feeding 

 be followed up, so that the brood nest is gradually reduced 

 and the combs stored for winter. 



Securing a Profit in Poor Seasons 



is a m3.tter hi the greatest moment, but one seldom success- 

 fully grappled with by any beekeeper. The hives are arranged 

 for the sumrner's work, and should the weather continue 

 unfavourable for the storing of honey the owner sees the season 

 gradually slipping away from him while he remains perfectly 

 helpless. He does, perhaps, feed when necessary, and return 

 swarms as they may issue, but this is too frequently the full 

 extent of his ' management ' (?), while the end of the season 

 finds him only out of pocket on the year's unsatisfactory work. 

 Even if only an improvement in the quality of the stock 

 had been made during the year, there could have been no loss, 

 but, on the other hand, a decided gain. Indeed, it is the first 

 duty of the progressive apiarist to rear young queens yearly . 



