IS CONSTRUCTIVE BEEKEEPING 



acquirements of one when they are advantageous to the next, 

 puts that next generation a stride forward in the battle for ex-t 

 istance . The colonies in which this acquired habit took hold suc- 

 ceeded best, and when we reali z e that this development has been 

 going on for countless years, by slow evolution, we can believe 

 that the bees have acquired habits that are of advantage to them 

 in their mode of life. Swarming is one of these habits, and 

 should we be able to breed it out, they would be thrown back, to 

 their way of life or social development that existed in the colony 



before they acquired this habit. 



A colony of bees cannot be considered in the scheme of re- 

 production the same as individuals. Individuals are being born 

 regularly in th ecolony, but through an acquired habit the colony 

 carries on what may be called limited birth control, by prevent- 

 ing the perfect development of the female. CONDITIONS that 

 induce the colony to start oueen-cells, or allow perfedt 

 development, is what we must control to prevent the urge. 



The bees in their wild state seldom had a home that did not 

 at some time become filled to its capacity. They developed a 

 habit, as we know, of putting off reproduction of the colony 

 while conditions in the home were such, that the strength of the 

 colony could be increased ; but letting it take place normally 

 when home conditions were getting crowded. Sometimes the 

 home was of such size that this did not occur for several seasons, 

 but eventually the home became crowded, from accumulated 

 honey, and swarming resulted. 



The smaller the hive the sooner the urge. The smaller col- 

 onies that came from the smaller homes did not survive as often 

 as the stronger ones, that had more time and room to prepare; 

 hence we have bees with the habit of putting off swarming as 

 long as hive conditions permit. 



The act of swarming must be considered a protest against 

 a condition in the hive. Could we keep a colony of bees with a 

 good queen, and plenty of necessary room, we would have no 

 swarms. It has been done, so it is not impossible. 



