PREVENTION OF NATURAL SWARMING. 231 
aud cluster together ; and not unfrequently, in the noise and 
confusion, other swarms fly off, and are lost. We have 
seen the bee-master, under such circumstances, so perplexed 
and exhausted as to be almost ready to wish he had never 
seen a bee. 
451. Mr. J. F. Racine, of Wallen, Allen Co., Indiana, 
had 505 natural swarms from 165 colonies in the summer of 
1883. Sixty-one swarms came out on the 8d of July. We 
will let him tell the story in his own way: 
“In the morning, as soon as the watchword had been given for 
the first swarm, there was no rest. Primary, secondary, and 
after-swarms, all passed under the same limb of the same tree. 
The bees were no sooner shaken in a basket, and emptied in front 
of a hive, than there was another cluster gathered, in the same 
spot. Some swarms had no queen, while others had 3, 4, and 
even 5ofthem. Some were young queens, some were old queens. 
When we could find a queen, we caged her (536) to preserve 
her from being balled (538). The sixty-oneswarms were hived 
in 20 hives, and surplus cases were given them at once. A man, 
who had come with 5 hives to buy swarms, said that he had 
never seen the like, neither had I, althoughI have kept bees for 
57 years. And the best of itis, I did not want any swarms at 
all that season. ” 
452. 5th. It is admitted, by all progressive people, that 
man can achieve a great deal by artificial selection and cul- 
tivation of plants and animals. The same selection is ad- 
visable in the reproduction of the honey-bee, and an increase 
from selected colonies or selected races, cannot always be 
had by natural swarming. In this, artificial swarming is 
much better, and gives much more satisfactory results when 
ever an increase is desirable. 
453. 6th. The numerous swarms lost every year, is a 
strong argument against natural swarming. 
An eminent Apiarist has estimated, that, taking into ac- 
count all who keep bees, one-fourth of the best swarms are 
lost every season. While some bee-keepers seldom lose a 
swarm, the majority suffer serious losses by the flight of 
