SECONDAKT SWARMS. 229 



leave, after hiving, than primary-swarms. It is probably 

 owing to the fact that the young queen has to go out for 

 her bridal trip (121), and the bees sometimes leave with 

 her. A comb of unsealed brood (166) given them will 

 usually prevent this (109). An absconding swarm often 

 leaves without settling. 



449. After the departure of the second swarm, the oldest 

 remaining queen leaves her cell ; and if another swarm is 

 to come forth, piping will still be heard ; and so before the 

 issue of each swarm after the first. It will sometimes be 

 heard for a short time after the issue of the second swarm, 

 even when the bees do not intend to swarm again. The third 

 swarm usually leaves the hive on the second or third day 

 after the second swarm, and the others, at intervals of 

 about a day. We once had five swarms from one stock, 

 in less than two weeks. In warm latitudes, more than 

 twice this number of swarms have been known to issue, in 

 one season, from a single stock. 



After-swarms, or casts — ^these names are given to all 

 swarms after the first — ^seriously 'reduce the strength of the 

 parent-stock ; since by the time they issue, nearly all the 

 brood left by the old queen has hatched, and no more eggs 

 can be laid until all swarming is over. If, after swarming, 

 the weather suddenly becomes chilly, and the hive is thin, 

 or the Apiarist continues the ventilation which was needed 

 only for a crowded colony, the remaining bees being unable 

 to maintain the requisite heat, great numbers of the brood 

 may perish. 



Prevention of Natural Svt arming. 



460. The prevention of natural swarming, in the pres- 

 ent state of bee-keeping, is an important item, for several 

 reasons. 



Ist, Bee-keeping has so spread in the last few years, that 



