The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-04
AGRICULTURAL.
Artificial SwarmIp z.

correspondent of the Beekeeper's Maya
zine writes as follows on the merits and de-
merits of artificial swarming:
Artificial swarmng has Its advantages, and
disadvantages. If it is desired to increase
ones stock to the greatest possible extent,
there is no doubt but that it can be done
most successfully by artificial swarming To
be successful iD this mode of propagation,
laying queens, or nearly mature queen cells
should be given to all newly made colonies.
This saves much time in brood rearing, and
enables the bee-master to increase his colo
MES much more rapidly.
The best way to make artificial colonies is
to take one comb, or at most not more than
two, from each of several hives, and put
them, with all the adhering bees, into a new
hive, spraying them with sweetened pepper
mint water TO prevent fighting. Enough
may be put in at first to fill the hive, or if a
smaller number, division board should be
used to contract the size of the colony, and
more Combs and bees may be added subse
quently, or empty frames may be given, as
the colony becomes strong enough to build
comb. Some OF the old bees will return to
their former homes, but enough will remain
to take care Of the Larvae until the population
is reinforced by the thousands of Matching
brood. 1t made early such colony may be
uCPCuuOu ou ioI d idiT yiclu vi sur plus uOU0y.
In place of the combs removed from the
old hives to form the new stock, let empty
frames be put in. They should be put in the
middle of the brood nest. Should the supply
of honey be plentiful, the empty frames will
be filled with comb and perhaps with eggs
and larvae in few days, land as soon as that is
done another new colony may be started,
and this process may be continued from May
until September. The new stocks, as well as
the old ones, may be drawn upon for the pur-
pose OF increase.
The advantages of this system are not to be
disputed. Que very great advantage is that
all are kept strong, and are in no danger of
falling prey to moth worms. Another is
that the old stocks part with material to form
new ones so gradually that the storing of sur
plus honey is very little retarded, less so than
by the occurrence of the swarming impulse,
even If the swarm be returned and compelled
to remain. If the frame be removed whenev-
er all are full, and room be provided for stor-
ing honey, the swarming impulse is not like.
ly to arise, especially if the hive be sufficiently
ventilated. Another advantage of this mode
of swarming is that no bees are lost in the
woods. Artificial swarming has its disadvan-
tages. The most serious one is, that the bees
too often fill the empty frames with drone
comb. Starters Of worker comb, or of comb
foundation, will not prevent them from build
ing drone comb. They will lessen the evil,
but will not remove it. I have many times
had them buil1 drone comb in frames partly
filled with nice worker comb. If empty combs
can be had, or the frames nearly filed with
good comb foundation, this difficulty will be
obviated. But these are not always at
hand. Comb foundation costs money, and
many persons have not the money to spare.
What is the conclusion of the whole mat,
ter? If wanted to Increase my stocks as fast
possible, would practice artificial swarming
If had bees enough and wanted a large
yield of honey, 1 would repress the swarmng
impulse as much as possible, and hive such
swarms as might issue in spite of all prevent
i've measures.