212 SUMMER. 



CAN OFTEN BE PREVENTED. 



"Prevention is better than cure." "We can, if we 

 keep a good lookout, often prevent more thaa one 

 issuing at a time. This depends on our knowledge 

 of indications, in a great measure. I have said that 

 before starting to fly off, they were about the entrance 

 in great numbers ; there may be one exception - in 

 twenty, where the first indications will be a column 

 of bees rushing from the hive. To take this matter 

 a little farther from the surface, we will take a peep 

 at the interior ; that is, if our hives contain glass 

 boxes, such as have been recommended. It is an ad- 

 vantage to know which are about to cast their swarms, 

 as long beforehand as possible. 



INDICATIONS OF SWARMING INSIDE THE HIVE. 



These glass boxes are usually filled with bees ; be- 

 fore leaving they may be seen in commotion, long 

 before any unusual stir is visible outside, sometimes 

 for near an hour. The same may be noticed in a 

 glass hive. Now, in good weather, when we have 

 reason to expect many swarms, it is our duty to watch 

 closely, especially when the weather has been unfa- 

 vorable for several days previous. A number of 

 stocks may have finished their queen-cells during the 

 bad weather, and be ready to come out within the 

 first hour of sunshine that occurs in the middle of 

 the day. We must expect some such occurrences, 

 and in large apiaries there is apt to be trouble, unless 

 you take some precautions. If you have taken no 

 care (which but few will), by previous examinations, 



