AKTmCIAL SWAlilimG. 
143 
CHAPTER, X. 
ARTIFICIAL SAV ARMING, 
The numerous efforts made for more than fifty years, 
to dispense Avith natural SAvarming, shoAv the anxiety of 
Apiarians to find some better mode of increasing their 
colonies. 
Although, by the control of the combs, bees may be 
propagated by natural swarming, Avith a rapidity and cer¬ 
tainty hitherto unattainable, still, there are difliculties in¬ 
herent to this mode of increase, and therefore incapable of 
behig removed by any kind of hive. Before describing 
the various methods Avhich have been contrived for in¬ 
creasing colonies by artificial means, these difficulties Avill 
be briefly enumerated, so that every bee-keeper may decide 
intelligently which is his best Avay to multijily his stocks, 
1. The numerous SAvarms lost every year is a strong 
argument against natural SAvarming. 
An eminent Apiarian has estimated, that taking into 
account all avIio keep bees, one-fourth of the best swarms 
are lost every season. While some bee-keepers seldom 
lose a swarm, the majority suffer serious losses by the 
flight of their bees to the Avoods; and it is next to impos¬ 
sible, even for the most careful, to prevent such occur¬ 
rences, if their bees are alloAved to SAvarm. 
2. Natural swarming is objectionable, on account of tho 
time and labor Avhich it requires. 
The Apiary must be closely Avatched during the Avhole 
Bwarming-season; and if this business is intrusted to 
thoughtless children, or careless adults, many sAvanus will 
