152 SWAEIIIXG. 



brood is destroyed, queen cells demolished, and all idea of 

 swarming given np. The destruction of drones at any 

 time may be accepted as evidence that, for the time being, 

 swarming is over. Colonies possessing but a moderate 

 supply of bees and honey, usually work on safe principles; 

 they can not afford to rear any drones, and when the 

 scarcity between fruit blossoms and clover occurs, they 

 pass the crisis without any sacrifice, and are ready to take 

 . advantage of the first yield, and will throw out swarms 

 long before those who were apparently far more prosper- 

 ous in the beginning of spring. This explains how a 

 second-rate stock may sometimes .surpass a "No. 1" in 

 swarming, which has been quite a mystery to many bee- 

 keepers. 



WHY DEOJTES ABB SOMETniES KILLED IN SPKESTG. 



I have seen statements going the rounds of the agricul- 

 tural press like this : " There will be no swarms this year, 

 as the bees have killed off their drones." This fact does 

 not settle the matter for the season, by any means, but it 

 will assuredly be some weeks before they can possibly get 

 another brood of drones under way. After a reverse of 

 this kind, they will not begin again until honey is obtained 

 in abundance, and it is quite often that all the conditions 

 are not present again, until the season is so far advanced 

 that it is too late. Occasionally they make preparations 

 the second time, and again abandon them. It is quite un- 

 usual for none of them to send out swarms late in the 

 season. 



Who will say that bees do not manifest wisdom ? What 

 prudent man would emigrate with a family if famine were 

 plainly indicated, when by remaining at home, he would 

 have a present abundance ? Who can fail to admire this 

 wise and beautiful arrangement ? The combs must con- 

 tain brood ; the bees must find honev during the rearin" 



