ARTIFICIAL SWAUIIS. 1^7 



will not fail to rear another. This may be taken as a rule, 

 but there are exceptions. The first experiments that I 

 made in this line, came very near proving to mo that the 

 exceptions formed the rule. Very soon after I began to 

 keep bees, when I had but few stocks, and was anxious to 

 increase the number, I was perplexed with the failure of 

 some hives to swarm, notwithstanding they were well sup- 

 plied with bees, and exhibited the usual indication, such as 

 clustering out, etc. Others, apparently not so well sup- 

 plied with bees, threw oiF swarms. Taking the assertions 

 of these authors for facts, I reasoned thus : In all prob- 

 ability there is plenty of eggs and brood in each of those 

 stocks. Why not drive out a portion of the bees with the 

 old queen, and leave about as many as if a swarm had is- 

 sued ? Those left will then raise a queen, and continue the 

 old stock, and I shall double the number. On examination, 

 I found eggs and larvse, and accordingly divided them. 

 Of course, all must he right. Now, thought I, my stocks 

 can be doubled, at least annually. If they do not swarm, 

 I can drive them. 



My swarms prospered, the old stock seemed industrious, 

 bringing in pollen in abundance, which, at that time, was 

 conclusive evidence that they had a queen, or soon would 

 have. I continued to watch them with much interest, but 

 somehow, after a few weeks, there did not seem to be as 

 many bees in the old hives ; a few days later, I was quite 

 positive of it. I examined the combs and behold ! There 

 was not a cell containing a young bee of any age, nor even 

 an egg in any of these old stocks. My visions of future 

 increase by this means, speedily disappeared about this 

 time. 



My new swarms, it is true, were in condition for winter, 

 although not full; but the old ones were not, and nothing 

 was gained. I had some honey and a great deal of bee- 

 bread and old black comb. Had I let them alone and put 



