234 NATURAL SWARMING. 
the old school report having noticed that hives which raise 
the most drones cast the greatest number of swarms. 
458. 4th. An improperly ventilated hive (836), or 
surplus arrangement, strongly induces natural swarming. 
We have seen ignorant bee-keepers, owners of box-hives 
wonder why their bees swarmed and did not work in the 
surplus honey receptacle. The average box-hive (276) is 
made about twelve inches square inside, often with only a 
shallow entrance a couple of inches long, at the bottom, and 
the surplus arrangement is reached by the bees, through an 
auger-hole an inch or two in diameter. In order to venti- 
late the honey receptacle, the bees have to form a line (61) 
from the outside of the hive through the thickly covered 
combs to this hole, and force in air enough to enable them 
to breathe and live there. How can we wonder that they 
refuse to work in such a place, especially when the hive is 
exposed to the heat of the sun in a June afternoon? 
Under such circumstances, hordes of useless consumers 
often blacken, for months, the outside of the hives, to the 
great loss of their disappointed owners. 
459. Ist. It results from the above that the principal con- 
dition for the prevention of natural swarming is, a sufficient 
amount of empty comb, and this empty comb must be given 
in an easily accessible place near and above, or in front of 
the brood. 
The giving of comb foundation (674) instead of empty 
combs, will be sufficient if the crop is not flowing too 
fast. But in avery good season, if the harvesting workers 
bring the honey faster than the young bees can stretch the 
foundation into comb, it will not be sufficient. 
460. If the breeding story is full of comb, and the sur- 
plus arrangement is placed above with a wooden division 
or honey board (352) between, the bees will often con- 
sider the latter as too remote from their breeding room, 
especially if the holes which connect the two are few, and 
