SWARMING ANT) IIIVINO. 
Ill 
tions, it is evident that swarming, so far from being the 
forced or unnatural event which some imagine, is one, 
which could not possibly be dispensed with, in a state of 
nature. 
Let us now inquire under what circumstances swarm- 
ing ordinarily takes place. 
The time when new swarms may be expected, depends, 
of course, upon the climate, the forwardness of the season, 
and the strength of the stocks. In our Northern and 
Middle States, they seldom issue before the latter part of 
May; and June may there be considered as the great 
swarming month. In Brownsville, Texas, on the lower 
Rio Grande, bees often swarm quite early in March. 
In the Spring, as soon as a hive well filled* with 
comb, can no longer accommodate its teeming population, 
the bees prepare for emigration, by building a number of 
royal cells. These cells are begun about the time that 
the drones make their appearance in the open air ; and 
when the young queens arrive at maturity, the males are 
usually very numerous. 
The first swarm is invariably led off by the old queen, 
unless she has died from accident or disease, when it is ac- 
companied by one of the young ones reared to supply her 
loss. The old mother, unless delayed by unfavorable 
weather, usually leaves soon after one or more of the royal 
cells are sealed over. There are no signs from which 
the Apiarian can predict the certain issue of & first swarm. 
For years, I spent much time in the vain attempt to dis- 
cover some infallible indications of first swarming ; until 
facts convinced me that there can be no such indications. 
♦ In our Northern and Middle States, bees seldom swarm unless the hive is 
filled with comb ; in Southern latitudes, however, the swarming instinct seems to 
bo much more powerful. In Matamoras and Brownsville, I have seen many 
colonics issue from hives only partially filled with comb. 
