HIVES. 57 



enough to fill them all, the room was so much contracted 

 that the swarm was forced out at once. This was found 

 to be more theory than fact, when put in ' practice. Bees 

 do not generally swarm without previous preparation of 

 at least a week. This hive, in one respect, is better than 

 most patents. The large amount of room in the boxes, 

 which might sometimes tend to prevent swarming, gives 

 all the bees an opportunity to labor when they do not 

 swarm, and consequently more surplus honey is stored on 

 such occasions. I understand that the " Farmer's Hive," 

 patented by Mr. Hazen, is on the same principle. Any 

 amount of room in a hive will not prevent swarming. If 

 they fill from 1600 to 2000 cubic inches with combs the 

 first season, they will swarm the next, nine times in ten, 

 if the season is favorable, without adding any new combs, 

 although there may be ample room for them. To test 

 this, 1 placed under five full hives of 2000 cubic inches, as 

 many empty ones of the same size, without the top. I 

 had a swarm from each. Only two had added any new 

 comb, and these but little, showing that ample room will 

 not prevent swarming. These hives swarmed when there 

 was room to make comb — some before any was commenc- 

 ed, others just afterwards. Therefore, it is idle for any 

 one to flatter himself with a prospect of success in such 

 experiments, without an entire change in the conditious. 



When a very large hive has been provided for a double, 

 or extra large swarm, and they fill it the first season, they 

 seldom swarm. They seem to have sufficient room in the 

 large number of combs ready made, for all they can do, 

 and there is no necessity for their emigration. The tyro 

 asks what becomes of the bees raised in the course of sev- 

 eral years. The answer in full will be found in another 

 chapter, and I will only notice here, that after a certain 

 maximum number is attained, there is no farther increase. 

 They gain nothing in number from one May until the next 

 3* 



