236 NATTJKAI- SWAKMING. 



In the first case, one or more young queens being raised in 

 the hive, it often happens that the old queen tries to destroy 

 them; the bees prevent her (112), and swarming is the 

 result. The same reason may cause swarming in a strong 

 colony, in which a queen has been introduced (533) by 

 the Apiarist, during a good yield of honey. Perhaps the 

 bees accept her ''under protest," and soon begin raising 

 queen-cells (104) to replace her, but the abundant honey 

 harvest causes them to change their preparations, and they 

 swarm with this introduced queen. A hive which has been 

 made queenless during the honey crop, may swarm for the 

 same reasons (443), as soon as the young queens are old 

 enough. 



466. The prevention of natural swarming, when comb- 

 honey is raised in sections (721), is not so successful, 

 because the Apiarist cannot furnish his bees with empty 

 combs. But very good results can be obtained, by follow- 

 ing as nearly as possible all the directions above given. 



467. As the queen cannot get through an opening -j^j 

 of an inch high — which will just pass a loaded worker, if the 

 entrance to the hive be contracted to this dimension, she 

 will not be able to leave with a swarm. 



This is done with drone or queen-traps, perforated zinc, 

 entrance-blocks , and other fixtures . (See Drone-trap , 191). 



This method of preventing swarming requires great accur- 

 acy of measurement, for a very trifling deviation from the 

 dimensions given, will either shut out the loaded workers, or 

 let out the queen. It should be used only to imprison old 

 queens ; for young ones, if confined to the hive, cannot be 

 impregnated (120). These fixtures, if firmly fastened, will 

 exclude mice from the hive in the Winter. When used to 

 prevent all swarming, it will be necessary to adjust them a 

 little after sunrise ■ and before sunset, to take out, or allow- 

 the bees to carry out any drones that have died. 



We have seen colonies kill their queen, and raise an- 



