The Honey Bee 1409 



When natural swarming is allowed, all queens should be clipped. 

 That isj one-half or more of one or both wings should be cut ofF 

 with a sharp penknife or scissors ; and it is safe and best to prac- 

 tice this in any event, since it gives better control of the queens 

 when they occasionally get into the air. Care must be exercised in 

 clipping not to pinch or injure the queen in any way, and espec- 

 ially to a^'oid cutting off any of her legs, which would prove a 

 handicap in the performance of her labors. 



When a colony becomes populous in the spring, the bees com- 

 mence rearing drones; later as the hive becomes crowded with 

 bees and brood and honey is being gathered, unless preventive 

 measures are adopted queen cells are started, and eight days later 

 when the first cells are sealed, the prime swarm issues with 

 the old queen, often a few drones, and the major portion of the 

 working force of the colony. This is the rule, but as there are 

 exceptions to- all rules this one is not invariable. Inclement 

 weather or a cessation of the honey flow may postpone the' issuing 

 of the swarm for several days and occasionally the queen cells 

 may be destroyed and nO' swarm issue. 



If the old colony is left undisturbed after swarming, a second 

 swarm frequently issues, usually on the ninth day after the 

 prime swarm and soon after the young queens hatch, one or 

 more of which accompany the swarm. 



By applying the ear to the hive on the evening or morning be- 

 fore the after swarms issue, the queen may be heard piping ; some- 

 times several may be heard at once, giving different tones, some 

 high and fine, others low and coarse. This is a pretty sure indica- 

 tion of swarming where there are young queens in the hive. 



It is usually poor policy to allow after swarms to issue and they 

 should be prevented by removing all queen cells except one of the 

 largest and most mature, six or seven days after the prime swarm 

 issues. It is also a good plan to place the prime swarm on the 

 stand of the parent colony, moving that to a new position wher- 

 ever desired. This strengthens the working force of the swarm 

 and tends to discourage after swarming in the old colony. 



Nearly always, swarms accompanied by a queen, cluster in the 

 vicinity of an apiary on trees, shrubs or some other object, where 



3 



