ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 179 



My hive may be used as a non-swarmer, and may be 

 made more effectually to prevent swarming, than any with 

 which I am acquainted : as in the Spring, (See No. 34. p. 

 105,) ample accommodations may be given to the bees, be- 

 low their main works, and when this is seasonably done, 

 swarming will very seldom take place. 



During the Summer of 185.5, I pursued a course of ex- 

 periments to test the feasibility of preventing bees from 

 swarming in my hives, by adjusting the blocks controlling 

 the entrance, so as to admit a loaded worker, and yet con- 

 fine the Queen. The plan promises to be attended with 

 complete success. If on further trial it is found to be em- 

 barrassed by no unexpected difficulties, results of great prac- 

 tical importance will flow from it. The Apiarian who wish- 

 es to be absent at any time, may easily adjust the entrance 

 blocks, so as to prevent the bees from swarming while he is 

 away ; swarming on Sunday may be effectually stopped, 

 and any hive may, in a few moments, be changed from a 

 swarmer into a non-swarmer. 



There are certain objections however, which must always 

 prevent the non-swarming plan from being the most success- 

 ful mode of managing bees. To say nothing of the loss to 

 the bee-keeper, who has, after some years, only one stock, 

 when if the natural mode of increase had been allowed, he 

 ought to have a number, it is usually found that after bees 

 have been kept in a non-swarming hive for several seasons, 

 they seem to work with much less vigor than usual. Of 

 this, any one may convince himself, who will compare the 

 industrious working of a new swarm, with that of a much 

 more powerful stock in a non-swarming hive. The former 

 will work with such astonishing zeal, that to one unacquaint- 

 ed with the facts, it would be taken to be by far the more 

 powerful stock. 



