260 
SUMMER. 
the bees have their own way about swarming — if 
honey is abundant, and the stock is in condition to 
spare a swarm, their own instincts will teach them to 
construct royal cells ; if it fails before they are ready, 
and the royal brood is destroyed,- it is because the 
existence of the swarm would be precarious, and it is 
best not to issue.” I will grant that in many instances 
it is better. The chance is better for surplus honey ; 
the stock is quite sure to be in condition to winter; 
and some judgment is required to tell when a stock 
can spare a swarm. 
But yet, we are sometimes anxious to increase our 
stocks to the utmost that safety will allow, and often 
have some that can spare a swarm as well as not, but 
refuse to leave ; perhaps commence preparations, and 
in a few days abandon them. Now it is evident that as 
long as many continue such preparation, that honey 
is sufficiently abundant to put the safety of the swarm 
beyond hazard ; some stocks will swarm while these 
others just as good, (that had abandoned it before) 
and have not now begun again, to be in time before a 
partial failure of honey, and some may not have com- 
menced in season. 
NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL SWARMS EQUALLY PROSPEROUS. 
I can see no difference in artificial or natural swarms 
of equal size, at the same time. By taking the matter 
in time into our own hands, with the rules given, we 
make a sure thing of it, that is, we are sure to get the 
swarms, when if left to the bees it would be uncer- 
tain, and no greater risk afterwards than with natural 
issues. 
