CHAPTER XIX. 



ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 



Advantages — Driving : Close and Open — Transfer to Bar-frame Hive — 

 Conditions of Successful Driving — Various Methods of Artificial 

 Swarming with Bar-frame Hives. 



There are some mortifying incidents connected witli 

 natural swarming, whichlthe skilled apiarian will en- 

 deavour to avoid, by taking the matter of the making 

 of colonies into his own hands. We have spoken 

 already of the annoyance and trouble often caused 

 by the flying away of a swarm. This accident at 

 the beginning of the honey-season means, at least, a 

 loss of what would be worth from a sovereign to 

 thirty shillings, either in stock or honey. Another, 

 but minor, disappointment comes from seeing the 

 bees hanging outside a hive in handfuls, idle and 

 useless, waiting for the queen to come forth with a 

 swarm. In this way the work of some thousands of 

 bees for several days is lost, and that often at a time 

 when honey is most plentiful in the fields. Now, 

 both these difficulties may be met with complete 

 success by what is called artificial swarming — an 

 operation which is conducted in different ways, 

 according to the kind of hive to be operated upon. 



