80 
Beekeeping 
of beekeepers from year to year in the number of colonies 
which prepare to swarm. If there is a dearth of nectar, 
swarming may be lacking and may accompany a later honey- 
flow (c/. example of heartsease honey-flow, p. 77), when 
the unbalanced condition likewise occurs. Where an 
abundance of room is provided ( e.g . extracted-honey pro¬ 
duction), the younger bees are usually found in the upper 
portions of the hive away from the brood, and to this extent 
they are eliminated. In the Aspinwall hive, the space 
between the slats provides room for the young bees away 
from the brood. The distinction of having the young bees 
away from the brood is probably important and finds its 
application in the proper manipulation of comb-honey 
supers (p. 314). A queen is capable of maximum egg- 
laying only after some weeks of egg-production and this 
may serve to explain the lack of swarming in colonies headed 
by queens reared and introduced in August. Demuth’s 
conclusion on the control of swarming exactly coincides 
with this theory as to cause. 
This theory is not again brought forward as a satisfactory 
solution of the cause of swarming. It is desired at this 
time merely to point out that, of all the theories advanced, 
this most nearly satisfies the various and divergent con¬ 
ditions observed in connection with this peculiar phenome¬ 
non. The subject is one of great interest and of the utmost 
importance to the practical beekeeper. It is worthy of 
more serious investigation than it has so far received. 
Swarming-out. 
Bees sometimes abandon their nest and to this phenomenon 
is usually given the name “swarming-out.” This is mislead¬ 
ing since it indicates some relation between this and swarm¬ 
ing and it is not definitely known that any such relation 
exists. Swarming-out may occur under a variety of con¬ 
ditions, the most common of which is in the early spring 
(or at other times) if the stores are exhausted. These are 
also known as “hunger swarms.” Some of the published 
