lo On Ratio7ial Bee-Keeping. 
If a swarm issues from a straw hive, the 
colony whence it issued keeps diminishing, be- 
cause the space allotted to the brood decreases 
gradually, even in the most prosperous years. 
The space left is diminished still further by 
a second swarm ; and since the new queen, as 
yet unimpregnated, cannot make use of the 
empty cells for depositing her eggs, the bees fill 
these cells with honey, and the colony which has 
produced two swarms is often fated to perish 
during the following winter, although amply 
supplied with provisions. 
According to the system which we are about 
to explain, by means of artificial swarming the 
strength of the colonies is largely increased, 
seeing that the space allotted to the comb is 
always in proportion to the wants of the bees. 
Artificial swarming has also this advantage 
over natural swarming, that it does not require 
daily supervision and consequent loss of time ; 
for when a natural swarm leaves the hive, it is 
often lost, even after having been hived ; and at 
other times, in spite, apparently, of the most 
favourable circumstances, no swarm issues forth 
at all, whereas by artificial swarms these con- 
tingencies can be guarded against. 
