SWABMING. 225 



AFTER SWARMS. 



^.fter swarms are second and tliird issues (or all 

 after the first) from a stock ; and quite a different af- 

 fair from the first, as also are some first swarms, when 

 the old queen has been lost, being led out by young 

 queens. 



THEIR SIZE. 



Second swarms are usually half as large as the first, 

 the third half as large as the second, the fourth still 

 less; with some variations. I give general features, 

 noticing only the exceptions that occur most frequent- 

 ly ; others sometimes happen, but so seldom that men- 

 tioning them is deemed unnecessary. 



TIME AFTER THE FIRST. 



'; "Whenever the first swarm in a prosperous season 

 was not kept bach by foul weather, the first of the young 

 queens in the old stock is ready to emerge in about 

 eight days. We will suppose the first swarrfl issued 

 on Sunday ; a week from the next Tuesday will be 

 usually as soon as the second one 'need be expected. 



PIPING OF THE QUEEN. 



On the Monday evening previous, or on Tuesday 

 morning, by putting your ear close to the hive, and 

 listening attentively five minutes, you will hear a dis- 

 tinct piping noise, like the word peep, peep, uttered 

 several times in succession, and then an interval of 

 silence ; two or more may be often heard at the same 

 time; that of one will be shrill and fine, of another 

 hoarse, short and quick. This piping is. easily heard 

 10* 



