186 AETIFICIAi SWARMS. 



I know that very young bees act as nurses, but I presume, 

 that as they grow older, they will, if they have an ordinary 

 share of energy, go abroad and collect honey and pollen. 



■WOKK WELL. 



Aitificial swamis do work just as well as natural ones, 

 as a general rule. In fact I never had one, that I thought 

 was less industrious, because of the manner in which it 

 was made. 



If you wish to be sure of an annual increase, it will be 

 necessary to take the matter in part in your own hand, and 

 make each hive spare a swarm that is in condition to do so 

 When this is decided upon prompt action is necessary. 



DO IT IN SEABON. 



It will not do to "wait and see if they don't swarm," 

 and then do it, and then if they do not fill the hive and 

 store as much surplus as a natural swarm hived four 

 weeks sooner, attribute it to the manner of making the 

 colony. Do it in season, or not at all. Also, it is import- 

 ant that a swarm is not taken at any time, imless the 

 colony is abundantly able to spare it. The ability to de- 

 cide this point requires much observation and experience. 

 It should always be done when there is filenty of honey, 

 unless you expect to feed, and it is usually safer to perform 

 the operation during the swarming season. Without these 

 conditions it is much better to jjostpone artificial increase 

 till another year. 



MY FIRST EXPBKIBNCE. 



My first experience in making artificial swarms, and in 

 raising queens was not very encouraging. But by comply- 

 ing a little more with the natural requirements of the bee, 

 I have since succeeded satisfactorily. It is stated by 

 nearly every writer, that whenever a colony of bees pos- 

 sessing eggs or young larvaj is deprived of its queen, they 



