£16 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



well to unite them. Simply hive them together and 

 blow a few whiffs of smoke among them. They 

 seldom quarrel at this season of the year. 



But unless in localities where the yield of honey is 

 abundant, and such as to keep the swarms building 

 combs and constantly advancing, with but little if 

 any intermission, from the time it is hived until the 

 close of honey gathering from the buckwheat, I 

 would strongly urge the removal of all the queen 

 cells from the hive soon after the first swarms left, 

 except one to supply the old hive ; and all hives that 

 sent off a swarm should be examined carefully, from 

 time to time, to see if the young queen becomes 

 fertile. This may be told by the eggs in the brood- 

 combs, which is more fully discussed in another 

 place. The proper and most profitable course to 

 adopt for the management of after-swarms, depends 

 entirely upon situation and circumstances. What 

 would be best in one place would not suit another; 

 hence, it is necessary for each apiarian to judge of 

 what is best adapted to his particular locality. 



In California, in most localities, a swarm issuing 

 at almost any time is likely to live over winter, 

 although it may not entirely fill its hive. The win- 

 ters being short and mild, it is comparatively easy to 

 keep late swarms during cold weather, and they will 

 fill up and make good stocks the next spring. This 

 doubtless applies- very appropriately to most of our 

 Southern States. Such swarms would be compara- 

 tively worthless for wintering in the Northern and 

 Middle States, hence it is quite impossible for any 



