202 



A Modern Bee-Farm 



CHAPTER XIV. 



SWARMING— ITS CAUSE, ITS CONTROL 

 AND PREVENTION. 



QT WARMING is undoubtedly one of the greatest 

 /^\ hindrances to honey production ; it is in fact a 

 ^^ stumbling-block with a vast number of bee- 

 keepers, who lose the best part of the season before 

 the bees can get into the supers which had been left in 

 an unfinished state when the swarm issued. Even under 

 such conditions, however, the act of swarming should be 

 so controlled that work is not hindered. But here again 

 the average owner appears to prefer increase to con- 

 solidating his working force. 



The primary cause of swarming is to be found in the 

 completion and over-crowding of the brood-nest. How 

 can this be proved ? (i) Very small skeps are productive 

 of numerous swarms. (2) The ordinary ten-frame Stan- 



