68 BEE CULTURE. 
out where there are little or no indications of a swarm. 
When honey is abundant, and bees plenty, look for them to 
come forth at almost any time, from the hours of 10 in the 
morning to 3 in the afternoon, for first swarms ; for second 
and third swarms, from 7 in the morning until 4 in the 
afternoon. 
By examining the hive it can be ascertained whether they 
are about to swarm or not. If queen-cells are seen with 
eggs or larvae nearly ready to be sealed over, a swarm may 
be expected within one or two days after the first cell is 
sealed over, or as soon after as the weather will permit. 
After whirling a few minutes in the air, the mass of the 
bees will cluster on the branch of some convenient tree or 
bush—generally one that is shaded from the sun’s rays. 
They should be hived as soon as the cluster is formed, 
else they may leave for the woods; or, if another colony 
should cast a swarm while the first was clustered, they 
would probably unite. 
Should the Queen fail to join the bees, by reason of 
having one of her wings clipped, or for any other cause, the 
swarm will return to the hive, as soon as they make that 
discovery. As the bees are gorged with honey, they may 
be handled without fear of stings. 
« After-swarms” being unprofitable, all but one of the 
queen-cells should be destroyed, or cut out, as before 
described, for nuclei—-this will prevent any more swarms 
issuing. Within eight days, the first Queen will issue, and 
finding that she has no rival she will take possession 
of the hive, apparently having no idea of swarming. 
To ascertain that she has no rival, she makes a peculiar 
sound—called «‘piping.” If there is another Queen in the 
cell nearly ready to emerge, it will answer by a “ piping” 
sound. If this‘Queen, still in the cell, is protected by the 
bees, so that the first Queen cannot find and destroy it, she 
will also prepare to swarm within 2 or 3 days. After the 
departure of this swarm, and the emerging of the second 
Queen and her ‘‘piping” is also answered by a third Queen, 
a third swarm may also issue. 
If the desire to swarm is satisfied after the departure of 
the first swarm, the queen-cells will be all destroyed by the 
first young Qneen that emerges. 
