INVESTIGATIONS PERTAINING TO TEXAS BEEKEEPING. 13 
more than delay the time of swarming. This was a decided disadvantage 
under the conditions existing, for in the case of the colonies which 
swarmed early, both new swarm and old colony had ample time to build 
up in strength before the main honey-flow commenced between the 15th 
and 20th of May. The late swarms were, of course, weak at the beginning 
of the honey-flow and, without exception, their surplus production was 
very low, as they did not store any honey to speak of until the honey-flow 
was more than half over. This loss was not compensated for by the rather 
heavy production of the three that did not swann. 
As stated in a preceding paragraph, these experiments should he con- 
strued in the light of a clear understanding of the conditions existing 
in this locality. Where the swarming season comes on from six to seven 
weeks in advance of the main honey-flow, as in this instance, the delay 
of swarming, by giving additional room or by destroying queen-cells, 
seems inadvisable.‘ An artificial division of the colonies, or their treat- 
ment by the “shaking” method, appears to bring much better returns. 
3. Increasing Super-Room. 
Many experiments were tried in which a large amount of super-roomn 
was furnished the colonies, both prior to the development of the swarming 
fever and afterwards. It is unnecessary to take space for describing these 
experiments, as in no case did the addition of abundant super-room have 
any perceptible effect upon the swarming tendency. 
> 4. Shaking Onto Foundation. 
A common method of swarm control in vogue among Texas beekeepers 
is that known as “shaking.” When the colony shows symptoms of swarm- 
ing and is building queen-cells, another hive is prepared, containing 
frames filled with foundation, preferably full sheets. The colony is placed 
to one side and the hive, containing the foundation, placed on the old 
stand. The combs are then taken from the old hive and the bees and 
queen shaken from them onto the ground in front of the new hive. In 
this way the colony is transferred, with rather rough handling and much 
excitement, to a brood-chamber containing nothing but foundation. The 
super, if one has been on the old hive, is transferred to the new one. 
The hive containing the brood and one or more queen-cells, with 
sufficient workers to care for the unsealed brood, is placed on a new stand 
and the entrance contracted somewhat to prevent robbing, and left there. 
In course of time a young queen issues, mates, commences laying, and, 
with the hatching workers, constitutes a new colony.* 
In the case of several of our colonies this shaking treatment was given 
as a preventive of swarming. ; 
Five colonies, all of which were very strong at the time, and were 
building queen-cells, were shaken onto foundation on April 21st and 22nd. 
The swarming impulse was checked entirely and these five colonies pro- 
duced, respectively, 175, 117, 103, 174 and 118 pounds of surplus during 
the season, an average of 137 pounds each. Twelve colonies in the yard, 
*Rough shaking of combs bearing sealed queen-cells will, in nearly all cases, 
kill the queens within. For this reason the bees should be gently brushed from 
the comb which contains the queen-cell fhat is to be preserved for hatching. 
