(Conucntions. 



Read before the Northeasten Convention. 



Increase of Colonies. 

 l. c. KOOT. 



Tlie best method of increase of colo- 

 nies, how far should it be extended and 

 how best prevented V It is probable 

 that no subject can be named which is 

 of more real interest to bee-keepers 

 throughout the land than the one which 

 I have chosen for this occasion. It has 

 commanded the attention of the most 

 able bee-keepers of the past as well as 

 the present. While marked progress 

 has been the result of the earnest, 

 honest thought which it has received, 

 it may yet be considered one of the 

 mysteries of bee-keeping upon which 

 more light must be given before uni- 

 form success will have been attained. 



First. The best mode of increase of 

 colonies. There are many bee keepers 

 who disapprove of any mode of hand- 

 ling bees that checks or controls their 

 natural tendencies. Consequently they 

 favor only natural swarming. Now I 

 desire to say that unrestricted swarm 

 ing is the most unprofitable system of 

 increase that can be practiced. In fact 

 I know of no one thing which is 

 practiced to any extent that is so 

 thoroughly undesirable and so far be- 

 hind the times. Even the box-hive and 

 brimstone pit do not prove their advo- 

 cates so unwise as are those who allow 

 this mode of swarming. Those using 

 the box-hive might control swarming 

 to the extent that sufficient honey would 

 be secured to warrant the application 

 of the brimstone match. 



A little over one year ago I suggested 

 this motto : " Keep each colony sup- 

 plied with a laying queen at all times." 

 Now I desire to make a strong assertion , 

 and I ask bee-keepers to consider it. 

 With a knowledge of what I state, I 

 affirm that if this motto were observed, 

 the amount of honey produced through- 

 out the country at present would be 

 more than doubled, from the same num- 

 ber of colonies. When two or three 

 swarms are allowed to issue, the old 

 colony is without a laying queen from 

 15 to 20 days. This fact alone makes 

 unrestricted natural swarming entirely 

 undesirable. v 



Time and space will not allow me to 

 mention the many disadvantages of the 

 practice referred to ; but I hope that my 

 assertions, given as the result of 

 thorough investigation and actual 

 practice, will lead those who have not 



185 



already done so to investigate the ad- 

 vantages to be gained by the more 

 advanced methods of increase. Many 

 maintain that one swarm should be 

 allowed to issue, and all other swarms 

 be prevented. In some localities and 

 some seasons this may prove satisfac- 

 tory, but, all things considered, 1 object 

 to any natural swarming. There are 

 several modes of artificial increase, 

 which in most seasons will prove prac- 

 ticable, but I have found that it is neces- 

 sary to adopt some system that will suit 

 all seasons, for we cannot determine in 

 advance what the season will be. I 

 shall, therefore, recommend as the best 

 mode, that of forming nuclei and build- 

 ing them up to full colonies. In this 

 way the queen may be reared from best 

 selected stock. Then one comb of brood 

 may be taken at a time from original 

 colonies, until each nucleus is built into 

 a strong colony. The place of the cards 

 of brood removed from original colonies 

 should be supplied with empty combs, 

 or frames tilled with foundation. The 

 practical benefits to be gained by this 

 method could not be enumerated in a 

 single article. They can only be attained 

 by a thorough study of the subject 

 through the various publications in 

 which practical bee-culture is made 

 plain. 



Second. How far should increase be 

 extended? This of course depends 

 upon the wants of the bee-keeper. If 

 honey rather than increase is desired, I 

 would say make as few colonies as 

 is practical and prevent the desire to 

 swarm. 



If increase rather than honey is the 

 object, then my answer would be. ex- 

 tend it as far as the season and one's 

 knowledge of the business will allow. 

 Or if a moderate increase is desired and 

 at the same time some surplus honey 

 secured, this may be accomplished, vary- 

 ing of course with the season. 



But some will ask, is there not an 

 average rate of increase which may be 

 secured satisfactorily each season and 

 at the same tune obtain a large propor- 

 tion of surplus honey? I answer, no— at 

 least not for such locations as our own, 

 and I think our seasons average as good 

 as in localities generally. 



Several years ago, before I made this 

 an exclusive business, I purchased a 

 number of colonies, and as I desired to 

 increase them, I secured extra hives 

 and divided my colonies, giving eacli 

 part four combs, four empty frames, 

 and giving all laying queens. Later in 

 the season I was obliged to unite them 

 again and feed the original number in 

 order that they might winter. Had 1 

 taken one comb from each of eight 



