86 HIVES. 



Call these stocks 'worth five dollars each, which makes 

 $2560, a.11 added together will make the snug little 

 sum of about $3500, against $55, It is not to be ex- 

 pected that any of us will realize profits to this ex- 

 tent, but it is a forcible illustration of the advantages of 

 the swarming hive over the npn-swarmer. 



PRINCIPLE OF SWARMING NOT UNDERSTOOD. 



But many of these non-swarmers, 'tis said, can be 

 changed to swarmers to suit the convenience of the 

 apiarian — Colton's is one. It is asserted that it can 

 be made to swarm within two days at any time, merely 

 by taking oif the six boxes or drawers that are very 

 ingeniously attached ; as this contracts the room, the 

 bees are forced out. Now I will candidly confess that 

 I could never get this thing to work at all. Of this I 

 am quite positive, that he (Mr. Colton) is either ignor- 

 ant of the necessary and regular preparations that 

 bees make before swarming, or supposes others are. 

 Mr. Weeks has advocated the same principle: he says, 

 " There is no queen in any stage of existence, in the 

 old stock, immediately after the first swarm leaves it." 

 I have examined this matter till I am satisfied I risk 

 but little in the bold assertion, that not one stock in 

 fifty will cast a swarm short of a week after commenc- 

 ing preparations. This opinion will be adopted by 

 whoever will take the trouble to investigate for them- 

 selves. (The chapter on swarming will give the ne- 

 cessary instructions for examining this point, if you 

 wish.) 



