NATURAL SWARMING. 193 



STATE WHEN SWARMS ISSUE. 



"But when there is nothing precarious about the 

 houey, the sealing of these cells is the time to expect 

 the first swarm, which will generally issue the first 

 fair day after one or more are finished. I never 

 missed a prediction for a swarm forty-eight hours, 

 when I have judged from these signs, in a prosperous 

 season. When there is a partial failure of honey, 

 the swarm sometimes will wait several days after 

 finishing them." 



The surest plan is to occasionally examine the con- 

 dition of the queen cells, about the time swarms are 

 expected. This is readily accomplished in our im- 

 proved movable comb hives, by simply lifting out 

 the frames containing the combs ; but it can be done 

 in any kind of box hive or gum, by first blowing 

 smoke under the hive; when the bees are driven 

 back a little, invert it, repeating the smoking opera- 

 tion occasionally, to drive the bees from the lower 

 ends of the combs, where the queen cells are usually 

 found. These cells are of an oblong circular form, 

 of considerable thickness, and in appearance rather 

 clumsy; when half made they are not unlike the 

 lower part of an acorn turned upside down ; they are 

 gradually lengthened as the royal larva increases in 

 size, and when finished and sealed up, w r hich, as Mr. 

 Quinby states, is about ten days from the egg, are 

 about an inch in length and resemble the end of 

 one's little finger, minus the nail, and are generally 

 suspended in a perpendicular form from the comb. 

 When queen cells are thus prepared watch your bees 

 17 



