72 
A YEAR AMONG THE BEES. 
queen were given, and the queen-cells are to be saved. A 
goodly number of bees adhere to the two combs and I know 
of no nicer way to start a new colony, than simply to place 
the hive in a new location. Or, the bees may be shaken off 
at the old stand and the combs used again to do duty as they 
have done during the last ten days, or given to a nucleus 
which needs them. 
It may be objected that this keeping bees queenless for ten 
days makes them work with less vigor. I am not sure but it 
ought, but I must confess I have had no strong proof of it 
come directly under my own observation. So far as I could 
tell, these bees seemed to work just as hard when their queen 
was taken away as before. In the spring of 1885 one colony 
was, by some means, left entirely away from the proper 
rows— some three rods from any other colony. I look it 
away, put it in proper line, and left to catch the returning 
stragglers a hive containing one comb, this comb having no 
brood and very little if any honey. This colony having been 
a very weak one, very few bees returned to the old spot, but 
these few surprised me by filling a good stock of honey in 
empty comb, before they were put with the rest of the colony. 
Swarms treated on this “ putting up ” plan often swarmed 
again, but if they did they were put up again. An objection 
to the plan was that these “ put-ups ” were in the way and 
had to be lifted down when anything was done with supers. 
Still, for any one who allows the bees to swarm, and who 
does not object to the lifting, the plan is a good one. 
PREVENTION OF SWARMING. 
I have, however, been anxious to find some way by which 
I could prevent swarms. I am not sure that it can ever be 
profitably done, but I am not willing to abandon the effort 
without a faithful trial. 
If I knew all about just what makes a colony swarm, I 
would be in better shape to use preventive measures ; but I 
do not know r . Of course there are some general things that 
I know about it, such as heat and want ol' room in the brood- 
