ARTIFICIAL SWARMING. 
175 
.iccuracy of moasurement, for a very trifling deviation 
from the dimensions given, will either shut out the loaded 
workers, or let out the queen. It should be used only 
to imprison old queens; for young ones, if confined to 
the hive, cannot be impregnated. These blocks, if firmly 
fiistened, will exclude mice from the hive in the Winter. 
When used to prevent all swarming, it will be necessary 
to adjust them a little after sunrise and before sunset, to 
allow the bees to carry out any drones that have died. 
Some bee-keepers, ivliile reading these various processes 
for making artificial swarms, have probably thought that 
it would be much better to double the colonies by trans¬ 
ferring half the combs and bees of a full stock to an empty 
hive; but for reasons already assigned (p. 156), such a 
course, though apparently more simple, would be injuri¬ 
ous to the bees. 
Having detailed the methods which can be most advan¬ 
tageously used for doubling stocks in one season, by arti¬ 
ficial swarming, it seems proper to discuss the question 
whether it will be best to aim at a rate of increase more 
ov less rapid than this.* 
niigbt bo used to prevent tbe issue of secoiui as well as first swarms. If the simple 
turniog over of two blocks will prevent all swarming, and without any ulterior 
evil consequences to the colony, it will meet the wanto of a large class of bee¬ 
keepers. 
The dllforcnce between theoretical copjectures and practical results Is often so 
great, that nothing in the bee-line, or Indeed in any other line, should be considered 
as established, until by being submitted to rigorous demonstration, It has trlumph- 
uDtly passed from the mere regions of tbe brain, to those of actual fact. A theory 
which may seem so plausible os almost to amount to positive demonstration, when 
pnt to tbe working test, may be encutubored by some unforeseen difficulty, which 
fipoodlly convinces even the most sanguine that It has no practical value. Nine 
thing,<t out of ten may work to a charm, and yet the tenth may bo so connected 
with the other nine, that its failure renders their success of uo accf»unt. 
* As soon as persons find that colonies can bo innltljflied at will, they are very 
apt to 80 overdo the matter, os to risk losing their bees. Notwithstanding repeated 
cautions to “make hasto slowly,” sonm have multiplied so rapidly, as to ruin their 
atocks. and bring great discredit on n.y hive, and system of management Others 
will probably do the same thing; for it would seem that nothing but a sad expert* 
