174 SWAKMINT.. 



missed her, and they may be liived in the usual way. 



In all cases, whether you set a new hive in place of the 

 old one or not, whenever a swarm returns, if other hives 

 stand near on each side, they are quite sure to receive a 

 portion of the bees, probably a few hundreds, which are 

 certain to he killed. To prevent this, cover them until 

 the bees have gathered on their own hive. Tliis is another 

 argument in favor of plenty of room between hives. 



Should no queen be discovered during the issue or return 

 of the swarm, she should be sought for in the vicinity of 

 the hive, and returned if found ; and the swarm will be 

 likely to issue several days earlier than if obliged to wait 

 for a young queen. 



When the old queen is actually lost, and the bees have 

 returned to wait for a young one, they are ready to leave 

 one or two days sooner than regular second swarms. 

 Whether a greater number of bees in the old hive, gener- 

 ating more animal heat, matures the chrysalis queen in 

 less time than a stock thinned by casting a swai-m, or some 

 other cause operates, I can not say. I mention it because 

 I have known it to occur frequently. 



A swarm unaccompanied by a queen, is scattered more 

 than usual when flying. 



In most cases where the queens are unable to fly, they 

 are old, and jsast the age of usefulness, and it is not of 

 much consequence if they are lost. They would die soon, 

 in any event. 



FIRST SWARMS CHOOSE GOOD WBATnEK. 



First swarms are commonly more particular in rcc^ard 

 to weather than after swarms. They have several days 

 from which to choose, after the royal cells are ready, and 

 before the queens are matured ; and they usually select a 

 fair one. But here again are exceptions. 



