238 NATURAL SWARMING. 



which the queen has deposited eggs, — is also an incitation to 

 the "swarming fever." These big, burly, noisy fellows help 

 to make the already crowded hive quite uncomfortable. This 

 is why a great many bee-keepers of the old school noticed 

 that hives which raise the most drones cast the greatest num- 

 ber of swarms. But they incorrectly concluded that the drones 

 were beneficial. 



458. Jth. An improperly ventilated hive (333), or 

 surplus arrangement^ strongly induces natural swarming. We 

 have seen ignorant bee-keepers, owners of box-hives, wonder 

 why their bees swarmed and did not work in the surplus honey 

 receptacle. In order to ventilate the honey receptacle, the 

 bees have to form a liiie (363) from the outside of the hive 

 through the thickly covered combs, and force in air enough 

 to enable them to breathe and live there. 



Tender such circumstances, hordes of useless consumers often 

 blacken, for months, the outside of the hives, to the great loss 

 of their disappointed owners. 



459. 1st. It results from the above that the principal 

 condition for the prevention of natural swarming is, a suf- 

 ficient amount of empty comb, and this empty comb must be 

 given in an easily accessible place near and above the brood. 



The giving of comb foundation (6'?4) instead of empty 

 combs, will be sufficient if the crop is not flowing too fast. 

 But in a veiy good season, if the harvesting workers bring 

 the honey faster than the young bees can stretch the founda- 

 tion into comb, it will not be sufficient. 



460. If the breeding story is full and the surplus arrange- 

 ment is placed above with a wooden division or honey-board 

 (353) between, the bees will often consider the latter as too 

 remote from their breeding room, especially if the holes which 

 connect the two are few, and ventilation cannot be readily 

 given from one apartment to another. 



461. The giving of combs in a place of easy access, must 

 be attended, to, just before the crop begins, or the bees may 

 make preparations which would render all later enlargements 



