34 
" 
’ the swarms, and retain them in the apiary, it is only ne- } 
cessary to plant plenty of trees and shrubs around, and — 
even to overshadow them, without obstructing their passage _ 
to and from their hives. When the bees swarm, they wi 
be arrested by those trees and shrubs. “a 
The pyramidal hives produce more numerous swarm "a 
than the simple or common hives. ‘The more numerous — 
the family, the more provision will be expended during — 
winter; and the number of empty cells is in proportion to 
the consumption. The queen has more room for her lay, — 
which is only limited by the number of cells, which she 
finds prepared for her eggs. . i 
If, on the return of spring, the queen has only ten thou- — 
sand empty cells, she will only lay ten thousand eggs, and — 
the swarm from this lay will be moderate. If, on the con- — 
trary, she has fifteen thousand disposable cells, she will 
deposit fifteen thousand eggs, and the swarm from this lay 
will be very considerable. The fecundity of the queens — 
is inconceivable. It seems that nature dispenses to them — 
the faculty and care of laying, not in proportion to their — 
physical means, but in proportion to the necessity and 
economy of leaving no cell without an eggs. =m 
From this observation, it may be concluded, that if it — 
be advantageous to have hives sufficiently populous to con- — 
sume, in winter, all the provisions of the Scottish hive, to — 
increase the places for the eggs, and at the same time to | 
advance the lay of the queen,—it is no less necessary, at — 
the same epoch, to enlarge the room for this prodigious — 
number to develop, before the swarm goes off. It was 
this necessity of enlarging the room, which led to the — 
change from the Scottish to the pyramidal hive. } 
If, on the contrary, no extension of room be given to the — 
population of the Scottish hive; if the individuals must re- 
main compressed,—the consequent incumbrance would — 
relax the labours in the interior, and, contrary to the in- 
- tention of nature, would retard the descent from the first — 
to the second pannier, as well'as the departure of the 
swarm. 3 
There are no signs, absolutely certain, to know when 
bees will swarm. The hives should be watched, in the 
swarming season, from eight o’clock in the morning, till — 
six in the afternoon, especially in stormy weather. The — 
greatest attention should be paid to the following signs eed 
Ist. When drones are observed to fly about, in front of — 
