SWARMING. 43 



very troublesome to the t ee-keeper, not only as to its uncertainty as 

 to the time it will take place, but also as to the position they will 

 occupy when they have settled, perhaps in a most inaccesible 

 place ; the swarm by such proceedings being frequently lost. 

 Again, where a few colonies only are kept, it does not answer 

 the bee-keeper's purpose to watch, or employ some one to do so, 

 for the exodus of a swarm ; and yet, by neglecting to do so, 

 the swarm may be lost. Natural swarming being of such an 

 uncertain character, modem bee-keepers devised a method 

 whereby the bees were made to give a swarm just at their 

 pleasure or convenience ; this is called artificial swarming. 



79. Artificial Swarming. — One of the simplest methods 

 to form an artificial swarm from skeps is thus conducted. The 

 bee-keeper is supposed, for example, to be the owner of two 

 skeps, both of which — this is imperative — are in a condition for 

 natural swarming, or at least one is, and the other well crowded 

 with bees. On a fine, warm, and bright mid-day, the skep which 

 we shall call No. i is driven (see " Driving," par. 90) ; when nearly 

 all the bees and the queen have left No. i, and gone into the 

 empty skep, which will be called No. 3, No. 3 is placed in the 

 original position occupied by No. I. The other skep, which until 

 no>w has not been interfered with, will be called No. 2 ; this must 

 now be placed on a stand some little distance away, and No. 1 

 put in No. 2's original position. After a time, all the bees 

 that were flying from No. i at the time of driving will have 

 joined the cluster in No. 3 ; this is the swarm. The combs 

 and brood of No. i having been placed on the stand of No. 2, all 

 the bees that were flying from No. 2 at the time of moving 

 it will return to No. i, it being in the position only known as 

 their home to such bees ; they will rear the brood, and also another 

 queen. No. 2 will have thus given a portion of its population 

 to No. I. It is upon these lines, with slight variation, that 

 artificial swarming is usually conducted. It is far preferable to 

 natural swarming, inasmuch as no risk is run of losing the 

 swarm, there is very little likelihood of a second swarm, and 

 the bees are kept continually at work, which is a very important 

 gain, as frequently, when allowed to swarm naturally, much 

 time is wasted before all the conditions are exactly suitable 

 for swarming. During this time of waiting very little work 

 is done, the greater portion of the colony hanging ou'side 

 the hive in a huge cluster, idling their time away. By these 

 means a swarm can be obtained for sale, or otherwise, just 

 on the very day the bee-keeper requires it. Swarming from 

 bar-frame hives is conducted much on the same principle, 

 but it is managed with greater ease and certainty. By many it 

 Is called " dividing," and no doubt that is the most correct term 

 to use 



