NATURAL SWARMING. 209 



TO PREVENT MORE THAN ONE SWARM STARTING AT A TIME. 



In an apiary of any size, two or more frequently 

 come off about the same time and unite. If top- 

 swarms, this is a loss ; if after-swarms, so much the 

 better. A good strong swarm is better than three or 

 four weak ones. This may be prevented, by sprink- 

 ling them with water, which I found to answer the 

 purpose very well. I frequently had occasion to use 

 it years before Mr. Quinby's work was published, yet 

 I will here give his method of applying it, which is 

 as good as any. " But should you discover the bees 

 running to and fro in great commotion, although 

 there may be but few about the entrance, you should 

 lose no time in sprinkling those outside with water 

 from a watering pot, or other means. They will 

 immediately enter the hive to avoid the supposed 

 shower. In half an hour they will be ready to start 

 again, in which time the other may be secured. I 

 have had, in one apiary, twelve hives all ready in one 

 day, and did actually swarm ; several of which would 

 have started at once, had they not been kept back 

 with water, allowing only one at a time, thus keeping 

 them separate. They had been kept back by the 

 clouds, which broke away about noon." 



I have sometimes used smoke for the same pur- 

 pose. By blowing it under or into the entrance, it 

 alarms them and disconcerts their arrangements for 

 a short time. Where many bees are kept, two or 

 more persons should be in attendance ; one should 

 keep a sharp look out to see if any, after the first 

 one started, show symptoms of issuing out soon ; if 

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