260 COLONIZING. 



is the result. This fact has been amply illustrated 

 in every department of business in California, as well 

 as elsewhere. 



If the bee-keeper, or person who proposes to be- 

 come such, will first study the habits and wants of 

 the bee in short, commence the business as an ap- 

 prentice should that of any trade or profession, 

 determining to understand it to such I would rec- 

 ommend the gradual adoption of the system of col- 

 onizing in combination with natural swarming, as laid 

 down in this work. 



HIVES FOR COLONIZING. 



Frame Hives being the most suitable for the pur- 

 pose of colonizing, the directions here given refer to 

 their use ; yet the Queen Nursery can be formed and 

 used in any style of hive with profit. 



TIME FOR COLONIZING. 



The proper time to commence colonizing is from 

 one to two weeks earlier than natural swarms leave 

 the parent hive, and to continue two months.* This 



* This is as late as it is safe to form them, unless there is 

 abundant pasturage, or feeding is resorted to, in which case colo- 

 nies may be formed to do well as late as the middle of July ; also, 

 the number of colonies that should be made from a hive depends 

 almost entirely on the amount and continuance of pasturage. 

 For, while in one place an increase of one or two colonies is all 

 that can be made, there are others where from five to eight can 

 be made, and all do well. 



