208 
ARTIFICIAL SWARMS. 
This table is probably not far from the truth ; but 
in experiments to ascertain the fact with unquestion- 
able correctness, it is very necessary to take into the 
account the state of the bees at the time when the cal- 
culation is made. If they are alive, they weigh less 
than when dead ; and if weighed immediately after 
they have emigrated from the mother-hive, allowance, 
to the amount perhaps of a fifth, must he made for the 
honey and farina with which they are then loaded. 
On Artificial Swarms . — Artificial swarming is not 
generally practised in this country, owing probably 
to the want of sufficient practical skill, in most of 
those who apnly themselves to Bee-husbandry. In 
many cases, however, it might be had recourse to with 
great advantage, and in some it is indispensable if it 
is desired to reap the full benefit of the stock. It 
saves the watching necessary in the case of natural 
swarms ; and if conducted on right principles, renders 
the artificial colony quite independent of the casualties 
to which natural swarms are liable. Moreover, it 
secures the multiplication of swarms in cases, where 
if left to the natural process, there would be none. 
Should a continued tract of bad weather take place 
about the usual period of swarming, the old queen 
would have time and opportunity to destroy all the 
royal progeny’, — for the bees never oppose the queen 
mother in such cases, — and thereby entirely frustrate 
the hope of multiplication by' natural swarms. To 
avoid this evil we must have recourse to artificial 
sw'arming-. The general period proper for the opera- 
tion is about eight or ten days previous to the time 
