218 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



When the lower part of the hive is full, and combs 

 well covered with bees, put the boxes to contain 

 surplus honey into the chamber, to which they will 

 soon ascend and commence building, if there is a 

 plentiful supply of honey. If they have been prop- 

 erly feci, and are strong and vigorous to commence 

 the honey harvest, they will fill from one to two sets 

 of honey boxes during its continuance, which will be 

 from twenty-five to fifty pounds of surplus honey; 

 and may, perhaps, the season being favorable, cast 

 off a swarm, if permitted. In this latitude all after- 

 swarms should be prevented, by opening the old hive 

 immediately after the first swarm issues, and removing 

 all the young queens but one. This is much easier 

 done, and more effectual, than returning after-swarms 

 to the parent hive. The young queen, thus left to 

 supply the old hive, is liable to accident. When she 

 takes her excursions abroad to meet the drones in the 

 air, she may be caught by a bird, or may miss her 

 way to her own hive on her return. I have on sev- 

 eral occasions rescued young queens, with marks of 

 their amours upon them, at the entrance of hives I 

 knew had fertile queens, where she would have been 

 dispatched in a short time, but for my timely aid. 

 By a prompt and careful examination I have gen- 

 erally succeeded in finding the hive where she 

 belonged. Hence, it is of great importance to guard 

 against the loss of a queen. The old colony should 

 be examined about ten days after the swarm issues, 

 and every two or three days from that time, and if 

 no eggs are found by the eighteenth day, take a comb 



