80 Beekeeping 



of beekeepers from year to year in the number of colonies 

 which prepare to swarm. If there is a dearth of nectar, 

 swarming may be lacking and may accompany a later honey- 

 flow (c/. example of heartsease honey-flow, p. 77), when 

 the unbalanced condition likewise occurs. Where an 

 abundance of room is provided {e.g. extracted-honey pro- 

 duction), the younger bees are usually found in the upper 

 portions of the hive away from the brood, and to this extent 

 they are eliminated. In the Aspinwall hive, the space 

 between the slats provides room for the young bees away 

 from the brood. The distinction of having the young bees 

 away from the brood is probably important and finds its 

 application in the proper manipulation of comb-honey 

 supers (p. 314). A queen is capable of maximum egg- 

 laying only after some weeks of egg-production and this 

 may serve to explain the lack of swarming in colonies headed 

 by queens reared and introduced in August. Demuth's 

 conclusion on the control of swarming exactly coincides 

 with this theory as to cause. 



This theory is not again jDrought forward as a satisfactory 

 solution of the cause of swarming. It is desired at this 

 time merely to point out that, of all the theories advanced, 

 this most nearly satisfies the various and divergent con- 

 ditions observed in connection with this peculiar phenome- 

 non. The subject is one of great interest and of the utmost 

 importance to the practical beekeeper. It is worthy of 

 more serious investigation than it has so far received. 



Swarming-out. 



Bees sometimes abandon their nest and to this phenomenon 

 is usually given the name "swarming-out." This is mislead- 

 ing since it indicates some relation between this and swarm- 

 ing and it is not definitely known that any such relation 

 exists. Swarming-out may occur under a variety of con- 

 ditions, the most common of which is in the early spring 

 (or at other times) if the stores are exhausted. These are 

 also known as "hunger swarms." Some of the published 



