PRIMARY SWARM. 221 
bee-keepers clip one of the wings of their queens previour 
to the swarming season. * 
As an old queen leaves the hive only with a new swarm 
the loss of her wings in no way interferes with her usefulness 
or the attachment of the bees. If, in spite of her inability 
to fly, she is bent on emigrating, though she has a ‘‘will,’’ 
she can find ‘‘no way,’’ but helplessly falls to the ground, 
instead of gaily mounting into the air. If the bees find 
her, they cluster around her, and may be easily secured by 
the Apiarist ; if she is not found, they return to the parent- 
stock, to await the maturity of the young queens. 
This method will do, provided the Apiary ground is bare, 
so that the queen runs no risk of getting lost in the grass. 
We abandoned it, after having tried it, for several years, 
but we know of some owners of large Apiaries who are suc- 
cessful with it. We notice that Mr. Heddon, in his inter- 
esting work, ‘“‘Success in Bee-Culture,’’ is of our opinion 
on this subject. 
435. Where a great many colonies are kept, several 
swarms may issue at the same time, and unite in a single 
cluster. 
If two swarms cluster together, they may be advanta- 
geously kept together, if abundant room for storing surplus 
honey can be given them. Large quantities of honey are 
generally obtained from such colonies, if they issue early, 
and the season is favorable. 
‘‘When more than two swarms have clustered together, it is 
better to divide them. Let us suppose that three have united. 
After putting three hives near each other, so as to form a trian- 
gle, the sack (429) or box, in which the bees have been captured, 
* Virgil speaks of clipping the wings of queens, to prevent them: from escap- 
ing witha swarm. Mr. Langstroth had devised a way of doing this, so as to 
designate the age of the queens:—With a pair of scissors, let the wings, on one 
side, of ayoung queen be carefully cut off: when the hives are examined next 
year, let one of her two remaining wings be removed, and the last one the 
third year. 
