CHAPTER II 



NATURAL SWARMING. 



The swarming season is one of unusual interest to the bte- 

 keeper. He hopes soon to commence his annual harvest both of 

 swarms and surplus honey. The issue of natural swarms is al- 

 most wholly dependent upon continued warm growing weather. 

 June is the great swarming month in the northern States. Yet, 

 when the spring is unusually favorable, wo get an occasional 

 swarm as early as the middle of May, and many about the last 

 of that month. Again, swarming may not commence until July. 

 Bees will often rear drones, construct queen cells, and be just on 

 £he point of swarming, when a few days of bad weather will 

 cause the drones and embryo queens to be destroyed, and swarm- 

 ing to be postponed indefinitely. As much time must be spent 

 in preparation when this occurs, it will require several weeks be- 

 fore swarms can issue, though the weather be never so favorable. 



Bees, like some human beings, seem most discontented when 

 most prosperous. If the season is favorable, the May flowera 

 will scarcely have appeared till the swarming fever begins in- 

 stinctively to steal over the colony, affecting equally, perhaps, 

 both queen and workers. The first step of preparation taken is 

 the rearing of drones, by an early deposit of eggs in the drone 

 cells by the queen. As these mature and the "lusty fellows " 



