THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



[July, 



are two modes of effecting this. A weak colony 

 may be built up by means of its own internal 

 resources, or by foreign aid, that is, by brood 

 taken from strong colonies. To build up a col- 

 ony in the former manner, I usually proceed 

 thus : I endeavor tirst to raise the temperature 

 of the brooding apartment of the hive, by re- 

 moving all supernumerary combs and reducing 

 the space by inserting a division board, care- 

 fully closing all slits, cracks, or crevices through 

 which heat might escape from the brooding 

 apartment. Theii I insert between two of the 

 brood combs in the middle of this apartment a 

 frame of empty worker comb, selecting such, if 

 practicable, as still contains a pound or two of 

 sealed honey in its upper part. It will of course 

 be understood that I had this in view already 

 when I inserted the division board, by so plac- 

 ing it that the frame of empty comb might be 

 put in its proper place. On the ensuing even- 

 ing I feed the bees from below with diluted 

 honey or sugar syrup, in a shallow dish. If a 

 suitable supply of sealed honey in the comb has 

 been previously introduced, a second or subse- 

 quent feeding wdl not be necessary. As bees 

 instinctively desire to have their brood in ad- 

 joining ranges of comb, not suffering any vacant 

 space to exist long in the brood-nest, the queen 

 will promptly supply the cells of the inserted 

 comb with eggs. As soon as these are hatched 

 and the larva3 sealed over, an additional empty 

 worker comb may be, in like manner, inserted 

 in the brood-nest ; and this process is to be re- 

 peated from time to time, as the increase of 

 numbers from maturing young will permit. By 

 keeping the brooding apartment Avithin proper 

 limits the while, and duly enclosed to prevent 

 the escape of heat — especially at night, the 

 hatching of eggs and maturing of the young 

 will proceed without interruption. If the req- 

 uisite care and circumspection be used in thus 

 strengthening and building up a weak colony, 

 so as never to proceed with improper haste, the 

 object of securing a populous colony seasonably 

 may certainly be attained. But this method is, 

 nevertheless, not adapted to the building up of 

 absolute loeaMings, and will almost certainly 

 fail if resorted to for such purpose. For such 

 weaklings we must avail ourselves of the second 

 method, strengthening them by the insertion of 

 maturing brood taken from strong colonies ; and 

 they can thvis speedily be converted into strong 

 stocks — taking cai'e to introduce combs contain- 

 ing worker brood ready to emerge, and not in 

 greater number, at once, than the bees can 

 properly cover and keep warm. 



But whence are we to procure the combs of 

 brood required for strengthening weak colonies ? 

 He who does not use unsuitable and unservice- 

 able hives, and whose bees have been win- 

 tered properly, will generally have some popu- 

 lous and strong colonies in his apiaiy, even 

 though he has to lend a helping hand by supply- 

 ing them with a little stimulative food early in 

 the spring, to bring them seasonably forward. 

 From such i^opulous stocks may safely be taken 

 from time to time, as needed, one or more combs 

 of maturing worker brood, immediately insert- 

 ing in their stead, however, an equal number of 

 full-built frames of empty worker comb. If there 



be no deficiency of forage, or the colony be ade- 

 quately fed, the queen will at once proceed to 

 supijly the substituted combs with eggs ; and in 

 from nine to fourteen days the cells will be 

 again replenished with sealed brood, and the 

 colony will scarcely be conscious that several 

 thousand bees have thus been abstracted from it 

 by brood-tapping. Herein consists the wonder- 

 ful power of multiplication possessed by the 

 movable comb hives. 



Having thus, without great labor, but with 

 the exercise of sound judgment and intelligent 

 interference, made your weak colony populous, 

 the next effort must be to maintain it in full 

 strength. This is another chief problem that 

 presents itself for solution. We here encounter 

 the natural swarming impulse of the bees. No 

 sooner does a poj^ulous colony become conscious 

 of its sti-ength, and find abundant forage at 

 command than drones are bred, queen cells 

 started, and preparations made for the emigra- 

 tion of a swarm ; and if the case be not taken 

 in hand seasonably and treated judiciously, a 

 swarm Avill issue, despite of oar efforts to pre- 

 vent it. When" a colony is approaching this 

 condition, and an immediate and continued full 

 flow of honey may be looked for, I take prompt 

 measures to cure it of the disposition to divide. 

 But if forage so plentiful is not to be expected 

 for several weeks yet, I i)ursue a different and 

 milder course to prevent swarming. I effect 

 this temporarily by enlarging the brooding 

 space, and reducing its temperature by ventila- 

 tion, also removing all drone combs and destroy- 

 ing the drone brood, if any is found. This latter 

 is an essential item, requiring attention. But 

 above all, I keep a watchful eye on the colony, 

 acquainting myself intimately with its condi- 

 tion ; for if we fail to act at the proper moment, 

 and the bees once resolve to swarm, nothing 

 short of the most radical interference can pre- 

 vent them from doing so. Observing the first 

 indications of their intention— diminished ac- 

 tivity in flight ; the non-occupying of empty 

 combs inserted at the sides of the hive, though 

 the population seems excessively crowded ; see- 

 ing also that the combs are filled with sealed 

 brood down to their lowermost edges ; and fi- 

 nally noticing that drone brood is being reared 

 in worker or transition cells, and the rudimen- 

 tary queen cells are beginning to make their 

 appearance, &c., I know that it is high time to 

 act. I remove two or three brood-combs from 

 the brood-nest, substituting empty worker combs 

 for them ; which is sure to be effectual for my 

 temporary purpose. Having thus, for a pro- 

 tracted period, maintained the colony in full 

 vigor, till the full flowing honey season is ap- 

 proaching, when honey may be rapidly stored, I 

 proceed to apply the radical remedy, by which 

 swarming is infallibly prevented. I piovide 

 another hive suitable for the size of the colony, 

 furnished with frames filled with empty combs. 

 Into this prepared hive, I shake off all the bees 

 and place it on their accustomed stand. The 

 shaking off, the transfer to a hive so strangely 

 furnished, the entire absence of brood and stores, 

 at once cvire tlie bees thoroughly of their swarm- 

 ing propensity. But being populous, and hav- 

 ing a full supply of combs, and thus exempted 



