121 
THE UIVE AND HONEY-BICE. 
had been sot out for them to cluster on, the bees which 
had returned on the first occasion, did the same thing 
again, drawing with them the rest of their companions. 
The only way in which we could obtain a single swarm, 
was by covering with sheets all the hives in the Apiary 
as soon as one swarmed, and thus the bees, being unable 
to enter them, were compelled to alight ! It would be 
difficult to find a better illustration of the folly of neglect- 
ing the old adage, “ A stitch in time saves nine.” 
After-swarms, or casts — these names are given to all 
swarms after the first — seriously reduce the strength of the 
parent-stock ; since by the time they issue, nearly all the 
brood left by the old queen has hatched, and no more 
eggs can be laid until all swarming is over. It is a 
wise arrangement, that the second swarm does not ordi- 
narily issue until all the eggs left by the first queen are 
hatched, and the young mostly sealed over, so as to 
require no further feeding. Its departure earlier than 
this, would leave too few laborers to attend to the wants 
of the young bees. If, after swarming, the weather sud- 
denly becomes chilly, and the hive is thin, or the Apiarian 
continues the ventilation which was needed only for a 
crowded colony, the old stock being unable to maintain the 
requisite heat, great numbers of the brood often perish. 
The effect on the profits of the Apiary, of too frequent 
swarming, is discussed in the next chapter. If the bee- 
keeper wants no casts, he can easily prevent their issue 
from my hives. About five days after the first swarm 
comes out, the parent-stock may be opened, and all the 
queen-cells removed, except one. If done earlier than 
this, the bees may start others, in the place of those re- 
moved. Those only who have thoroughly tried both 
plans, can appreciate how much better this is, thun to 
attempt to return the after-swarms to the parent hive. 
