Ee S—“‘ SF! 
Beekeeping in the Buckwheat Region. 19 
‘tain colonies to this use after the close of the clover honey-flow at 
the sacrifice of the buckwheat honey-crop. 
DIVIDING THE COLONIES IN JUNE. 
By June each colony should have brood in two hive-bodies. It is 
understood that if this plan is followed the division is to be made 
before the normal time for the bees to swarm, thus controlling this 
instinct. About June 1 place the old queen in the lower hive-body 
with a small amount of brood, most of the brood being placed in 
the upper hive-body if necessary and a queen-excluder placed between 
the two hive-bodies. In 10 days all the brood in the upper hive-body 
will be sealed. At this time (June 10) remove the upper hive-body, 
give it a bottom board, and cover and place it beside the original 
colony. At this operation give the removed queenless portion a ripe 
queencell or virgin queen (or, if available, a young laying queen). 
Tf a young laying queen is given, the division may be made 10 days 
later. The young queens should, as previously stated, be laying by 
about June 15 to 20 in order that there may be adequate time for the 
development of the new colony to full strength for the buckwheat 
honey-flow. As the beekeeper increases in skill in wintering his 
colonies, he will find that the colonies are sufficiently strong so that 
it will be possible for him to increase each colony to three colonies 
and still have them sufficiently strong so that each portion may be 
ready for the buckwheat honey-flow, but great care should be exer- 
cised in this regard. Whatever plan is followed, the beekeeper 
should constantly keep in mind the fact that the object of this divi- 
sion is to have the maximum number of eggs laid between June 15 
to 20 and the beginning of the buckwheat honey-flow. 
For the proper development of the several parts of the original 
colony it is necessary that each part have never less than 15 pounds 
of honey (the equivalent of three full frames) at any time previous 
to the beginning of the buckwheat honey-flow. The amount which 
must be left with each portion at' the time of division will be deter- 
mined by the amount available in the field at that time. If honey 
in combs is not available, and if there is a scarcity of nectar from 
the fields, it will be necessary to feed each colony. If feeding is 
practiced, it is dangerous to depend on daily feeding unless more is 
given each day than is consumed by the bees. The better plan is to 
feed in large quantities at each feeding, bearing in mind at all times 
the necessity of keeping the requisite 15 pounds of stores in the hives 
every minute during this interval. 
Each colony will need at least two hive-bodies for full development 
of the requisite brood at least by July 10. If the additional room is 
not given, it will be impossible to have full-strength colonies at the 
