148 SWAEMTSTG. 



and had as much honey as the natives, which had not 

 swarmed. 



The bee-keeper who thinks much of his bees, will, of 

 course, wish to see and hive his swarms as they issue. K 

 neglected, for even a short time after they cluster, they 

 win often relieve themselves from such protection, and 

 seek the shelter of some old tree in the woods, humming 

 indignant reproaches as they leave. Without some 

 knowledge of the indications of swarms, we often watch 

 vainly for weeks, remaining at home, and perhaps neglect- 

 ing important business in the fruitless expectation that the 

 " bees will swarm." External appearances are not to be 

 depended on. Very early swarms often issue before clus- 

 tering out ; also, they very often cluster out without 

 swarming. It is necessary to look inside the hive for 

 reliable indications. 



I have several apiaries away from home that need atten- 

 tion in the swarming season, and a person must be on 

 hand each fair day, to take charge of the swarms as they 

 issue. To avoid watching unnecessarily before they begin, 

 and after they cease, some one examines the hives in the 

 middle of the day. 



INDICATIOKS. 



If they are box hives, a little smoke is blown under, the 

 hives turned over, the bees driven away with a little more 

 smoke, and the queen cells examined. If there are none 

 containing eggs or larvae, or none with thin smooth walls, 

 evidently just begun, there is not much prospect of a swarm 

 for several days. There is always a possibility, however, 

 that some cells will be out of sight. But if any cells con- 

 tain eggs, or larvae nearly ready to seal over, or actually 

 sealed over, we know at once what to expect. When 

 sealed over, the swarm will probably issue the next day. 

 This is at the beginning of the season. If at, or near the 



