234 NATURAL SWARMING. 



until all swarming is over. If, after swarming, the weather 

 suddenly becomes chilly, and the hive is thin, or the Apiarist 

 continues the ventilation which was needed only for a crowded 

 colony, the remaining bees being unable to maintain the requi- 

 site heat, great numbers of the brood may perish. 



Prevention of Natural Swarming. 



450. The prevention of natural swarming, in the present 

 state of bee-keeping, is an important item, for several rea- 

 sons. 



1st, Bee-keeping has so spread in the last few years, that 

 many bee-keepers are possessors of as many colonies as they 

 desire to keep. Most Apiarists, especially farmers, keep bees 

 only for the honey, and as it is impossible to produce both 

 an increase of stock, and a large yield of honey in average 

 seasons, they prefer the production of honey to that of 

 swarms. 



2nd, Another objection to natural swarming arises from 

 the disheartening fact, that bees are liable to swarm so often, 

 as to destroy the value of both the parent-stock, and its after- 

 swarms. Experienced bee-keepers obviate this difficulty by 

 making one good colony out of two second swarms, and re- 

 turning to the parent-stock all swarms after the second, and 

 even this if the season is far advanced. Such operations often 

 consume more time than they are worth. 



3d, The bees may be located in a town, near a public thor- 

 oughfare where people pass constantly, and accidents may 

 take place ; or perhaps near the woods where 'the swarm would 

 cluster on such high limbs that it would be difficult or impos- 

 sible to hive them. 



4th, It is very troublesome to have to watch the bees for 

 weeks, or to have them swarm at miexpeeted or unwelcome 

 times, when the family is away, or at dinner, or while the 

 owner is engaged with his business, for many bee-keepers are 

 also lawyers, doctors or merchants, occupied in daily labors, 



