70 
A YEAR AMONG TILE BEES. 
After the first year, however, I had some colonies swarm 
again after the queen was given them. Whether it was the 
season, the change in the plan, or some other cause, I am 
unable to say. 
I then adopted a plan which relieved me of the necessity 
of hunting for and cutting out queen-cells. No matter how 
careful I might be, there was always a possibility that I 
might overlook a queen-cell, although this very rarely hap- 
pened, if ever. But it took a good deal of valuable time. 
I give herewith the plan, which I think an improvement : 
When a swarm issues and returns, it is ready for treatment 
immediately ; although usually it is put down in my memo- 
randum of work to be done, and the time set for it may be 
the next day or any time within five days, just as suits my 
convenience. The queen is caged at the time of swarming, 
and put in the vacant part of the brood-chamber — possibly 
in the upper part of a super— where the bees can care for her. 
Within the five days, I take off the super, and put most of 
the brood-combs into an empty hive. Indeed I may take all 
the brood-combs, for I want in this hive all the combs the 
colony should have. In the hive left on the stand, I leave 
or put from one to three frames, generally two. These combs 
must be sure to have no queen-cells, and may be most safely 
taken from a young or weak colony having no inclination 
to swarm. The two combs are put in the south side of the 
hive, a division-board and dummy next to them, and the 
supers again put on. If I did not do so at the time of taking 
out the frames, I now shake off the bees from about half the 
frames, not being particular to shake them off clean. This 
hive is then put on the top of the supers, the queen let free 
on top of the frames, and the hive covered up. A plenty of 
bees will be left to care for the brood, the queen will 
commence laying, all thought of swarming is given up, and 
every queen-cell torn down by the bees. In perhaps two 
days I take a peep to see if the queen is laying, for it some- 
times happens that at the time when I “ put up the queen, ” 
as I call the operation I have just described, there is already 
