200 



TBE BEi<:-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



Manager also a Delegate to the Internation- 

 al Convention." 



Could anything be plainer? The Union 

 was officially declared to be affiliated to the 

 National Society, and its President and Gen- 

 eral Manager declared to be officers of the 

 Association. 



In St, Joseph last fall, this was (if I am 

 correctly informed) all thrown out ; indeed 

 the whole by-laws were repealed, and the 

 Union "divorced." 



Now, in less than a year, up comes the 

 present proposition to re-marry the two 

 again. The National Association is to mar- 

 ry the Union, as a blushing bride, probably 

 because of her dowery. What child's play 

 and foolishness ! 



The Union is prosperous and successful, 

 and needs no "affiliation." The National 

 Society is the impecunious party, and must 

 do all the " sparking," if a re-marriage is 

 effected ! 



As General Manager of the Union I must 

 say, seriously, that no amalgamation can be 

 made unless so determined by a full and 

 free vote of all its members, upon proper 

 presentation of the aims and objects thereof. 



I do not believe that the members of the 

 Union will ever consent to have the funds 

 raised for defense, diverted to other chan- 

 nels, and used for delegates "to see the 

 boys and have a good time." I know that 

 my consent will never be given for such a 

 thing. 



Chicago, 111. June 24, 1895. 



^-^^>Prs^l 



Artificial Increase of Colonies. 



L. A. ASPINWAIiL. 



JN view of the in- 

 herent tendency 

 of bees to propa- 

 gate themselves by 

 swarming, any 

 method of arti- 

 ficial increase will 

 be unfavorably re- 

 ceived by the ma- 

 jority of bee-keep- 

 ers ; unless, it fol- 

 lows the advent of 

 a perfect non- 

 swarming hive. 



However, there are many, who, for various 



reasons prefer it. 



In considering a method, it is of supreme 

 importance that we conform as nearly as 

 possible to the natural means of increase in 

 order to obtain the best results. This being 

 understood, let us note that natural swarm- 

 ing takes place during a period when the 

 flowers yield honey. Of course there are ex- 

 ceptional instances. Also, the hives are 

 usually overflowing with bees. If an ex- 

 amination of the colony be made after 

 swarming we will find comparatively few 

 bees left in the hive ; but, an inspection of 

 the combs will reveal a large proportion of 

 sealed brood — thousands upon thousands of 

 maturing bees to repair the loss occasioned 

 by swarming. Upon further investigation 

 we will find the new swarm composed of 

 young, middle aged and old bees —bees of 

 all ages adapted to fill the requirements of a 

 new colony — honey gatherers, wax workers, 

 and nurse bees. The few which remain in 

 the parent hive are likewise of various ages, 

 with nurse bees in sufficient numbers to care 

 for the unsealed brood. 



In order to produce a vigorous working 

 colony by an artificial process, the first es- 

 sential is to have it composed of bees of 

 various ages. 2nd. That it be made during 

 a honey flow, or period of natural increase. 

 2rd. That it be separated from the combs 

 of the parent colony. 



In absence of the swarming impulse, un- 

 der which the bees of natural swarms mark 

 and adhere to a new location, it becomes 

 necessary to reverse the order, by removing 

 the comb structure of the hive, and allow- 

 ing the forced swarm to occupy the familiar 

 hive and location. 



At this juncture excellent judgment is re- 

 quired. The honey yield must be consid- 

 ered, and the condition of the colony or col- 

 onies from which increase is to be made 

 must be ascertained, both as to the amount 

 of brood, (whether sealed or otherwise), and 

 the general strength in regard to numbers. 



An exchange of sealed for unsealed brood 

 combs of two colonies, making six sealed 

 combs for the parent colony, will work to 

 great advantage in approximating those un- 

 der natural circumstances ; while the one 

 containing unsealed combs will be ready for 

 a similar method of increase a week or ten 

 days later. However, the colony which re- 

 ceives unsealed brood in lieu of the sealed, 

 is proportionally retarded in its increase, 

 and it fully affects any advantage gained by 



