04/02/2024
circa. 1867 - Swarm Nomenclature.
~ Do you know what the beekeeping terms; prime, cast, c**t, filly, and maiden mean?.
Its Swarm Season in the Northern Hemisphere.
Image: circa. 1896 ~ Hiving a Swarm. England
The first swarm that issues from a stock of bees in the spring is called the "prime" swarm, and is usually the strongest and best which such a stock may be expected to produce that season.
The second swarm, or first afterswarm, is termed a "cast" and usually issues from ten to fourteen days after the prime swarm. It is commonly weaker than the prime swarm -that is, composed of fewer bees; and coming later in the season, does not always secure sufficient stores to pass the winter safely. It has the advantage, however, of possessing a young queen.
Should a third swarm issue from the same stock, it is termed a "c**t," and a fourth swarm is called a "filly." These are rare, but when they make their appearance, follow the second swarm, after an interval of only one or two days.
A swarm from a swarm is called a "maiden" swarm, and is accompanied by the same queen which issued with the parent stock when it swarmed.
In ordinary honey districts, good bee-keepers generally strive to prevent the production of any afterswarm by adding supers to their hives. But as this is not always effectual, they catch and destroy the queen of the young swarm, and let the bees return to the parent stock.
Source:
Text:
circa. 1867. American Bee Journal. January, Page 125
https://books.google.com/books?id=zJo-C9CCqvcC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&pg=RA1-PA125 =onepage&q&f=false
Image:
circa. 1896 ~ might be by Cowan, T. W
