260 SUMMEK. 



the bees have their owu way about swarming — if 

 honey is abundant, and the stock is in condition to 

 spare a swarm, their own instincts will teach them to 

 construct royal cells ; if it fails before they are ready, 

 and the royal brood is destroyed, it is because the 

 existence of the swarm would be precarious, and it is 

 best not to issue." I will grant that in many instances 

 it is better. The chance is better for surplus honey; 

 the stock is quite sure to be in condition to winter; 

 and some judgment is required to tell when a stock 

 can spare a swarm. 



But yet, we are sometimes anxious to increase our 

 stocks to the utmost that safety will allow, and often 

 have some that can spare a swarm as well as not, but 

 refuse to leave ; perhaps commence preparations, and 

 in a few days abandon them. Now it is evident that as 

 long as maily continue such preparation, that honey 

 is sufficiently abundant to put the safety of the swarm 

 beyond hazard ; some stocks will swarm while these,, 

 others just as good, (that had abandoned it before) 

 and have not now begun again, to be in time before a 

 partial failure of honey, and some may not have com- 

 menced in season. 



NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SWARMS EQUALLY PROSPEROUS. 



I can see no difference in artificial or natural swarms 

 of equal size, at the same time. By taking the matter 

 in time into our own hands, with the rules given, we 

 make a sure thing of it, that is, we are sure to get the 

 swarms, when if left to the bees it would be uncer- 

 tain, and no greater risk afterwards than with natural 

 issues. 



