SWAKMING. 151 



in the yield of honey at any time after the royal eggs <ii'e 

 deposited, before the sealing of the cells — which is about 

 ten days — will be likely to ensure their destruction. Even 

 after being sealed, T have sometimes known them to be 

 destroyed. 



WHEN SWARMS ISSUE. 



But when there is nothing precarious about the supply 

 of honey, the sealing of these cells indicates the first 

 swarm, which will generally issue on the first fair day after 

 one or more are finished. I have never missed a prediction 

 of a swarm, when I have judged from these signs, in a 

 prosperous season. 



When there is a partial failure of honey, the swarm 

 will sometimes wait several days after finishing these cells. 

 If the family is strong, and there is a sudden increase in 

 the yield of honey, the swarm may not wait for the sealing 

 of any cells, but will issue about the time, or very soon 

 after, eggs are laid in them. This occurs suflSoiently often 

 to be mentioned as an exception to the rule. But never- 

 theless, the rule is, to expect the first swarm upon the 

 sealing of any of the royal cells. 



Again, if there is a failure of honey when these cells are 

 finished, there may be no swarm. A failure often occurs 

 between fruit blossoms and white clover, and also at the 

 end of the honey season, whether it be the first, middle, or 

 last of July. The first deficiency occurs about June 1st. 

 If fruit blossoms have yielded only a moderate amount of 

 honey, the strong stocks that have agood supply, feeling their 

 importance, like some specimens of the human family, who 

 consider a moderate competence inexhaustible, will indulge 

 in extravagance by rearing a useless number of drones. 

 When the income ceases, and famine is close at hand, 

 something must be done to save the colony. The drones 

 are sacrificed for the good of the community ; even the 



