1903 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURK 



323 



" But, aren't drones necessarj' as well?" 



" Necessity for drones comes onlj' in case 

 of young' unfertile queens. The second fact 

 is, that worker bees, without a queen, can 

 rear queen if they are furnished with a 

 comb containing- egg's or larvas under three 

 days old. Third, a part of the bees of any 

 colon3% unless too small, may be taken from 

 the hive or colony, with or without the 

 queen, without disorganizing any of the 

 others." 



" Don't you take a part of the combs from 

 the old colon}' in making new swarms? " 



" You can, or j-ou need not, just as suits 

 j'ou best; and this brings me to the fourth 

 fact, which is, that a part or all of the 

 combs may be taken, with their contents, 

 from a colonj' of bees without destroying 

 them, as they will immediately go to work 

 to replace it, if fed, when honey is not coming 

 in from the fields. Then fifth, and lastly, 

 queens can be reared in an}' desirable num- 

 ber by taking the queen awaj' from any 

 populous colony, according to the number; 

 and, when nearl}- mature, they can be giv- 

 en to the queenless part of any division 

 made. These facts, while they form the 

 basis for artificial swarming, are subject 

 to man}' qualifying conditions, and a mere 

 knowledge of them alone would not enable 

 a novice to multiply his colonies to the best 

 advantage." 



"How, then, am I to know how to in- 

 crease my colonies to the best advantage? " 



"By getting some book; or, if you can 

 aflrord it, all of the books on apiculture, and 

 studying them, and. through the knowledge 

 thus gained, and thorough knowledge of 

 the economy of the hive, and the habits and 

 peculiarities of the inmates thereof, coupled 

 with what I have just told you about the 

 five facts, will, with a person of ordinary 

 ability, give success in proportion to the 

 energy and perseverance of the one under- 

 taking the matter." 



" Do you think I could succeed? " 



" I do not know why you should not, for I 

 judge you have the qualities named ; but 

 you will want to go a little slow at first. 

 The greatest and most damaging error that 

 nearly all beginners fall into is an inclina- 

 tion to overdo the matter. After getting 

 started they generally 'swarm' their bees 

 to death, as the multiplying seems so easy 

 during the honey-flow, and they find them- 

 selves in possession of a lot of weak colo- 

 nies, with little stores for winter, when 

 that season arrives, only to drag out a mis- 

 erable existence for a little while, or die of 

 spring dwindling before settled warm wea- 

 ther arrives. Another error, in the average 

 locality, is almost as bad as the above, 

 which is, putting off" the increase of colo- 

 nies till too late in the season." 



" When is the right time to multiply my 

 colonies? " 



" No definite time can be given, as very 

 much depends on the season and locality; 

 but it is well to do it as early as you can. 

 In the Northern States it can generally be 

 done with safety from the 10th to the 25th 



of June, and in the Southern States from 

 one to two months earlier, according to the 

 latitude." 



" How can I tell about this matter? Is 

 there nothing definite to go by? " ' 



" The only safe guide is the condition of 

 the colonies to be operated on. The hives 

 should be well filled with brood and bees, 

 and honey coming in from the fields, to have 

 the proper conditions exist. This will oft- 

 en occur from one to three weeks before 

 natural swarming would take place? " 



" Why begin so early? " 



"Because the majority of us wish to se- 

 cure as much surplus honey as possible 

 along with the increase. In this way the 

 parent colony, as also a swarm made at 

 that time, will, by the time when honey be= 

 comes abundant, be filled with comb and 

 brood, and ready to take advantage of the 

 honey harvest by storing a nice surplus; 

 while, if left till later, each part would 

 have all this work to do at the most impor- 

 tant period of the year. Two or three 

 weeks thus saved, frequently amounts to 

 the difference between an excellent yield of 

 honey and not enough to pay expenses." 



"Can I make all increase at the same 

 time? " 



" This is not usually the case, as many 

 colonies will not come into proper condition 

 for dividing when the more advanced are 

 ' ripe ' for the operation, on account of all 

 not coming through the winter in equally 

 good condition, having old or failing queens, 

 etc. ' ' 



"What shall I do with any weak colo- 

 nies I may chance to have? " 



" Such colonies may be united with oth- 

 ers, after destroying old queens; or, if the 

 queen is vigorous, a frame of emerging 

 brood may be given from one of the most 

 prosperous colonies, as soon as the weather 

 becomes warm enough so there is no dan- 

 ger of the brood perishing on account of too 

 few bees to care for it properly." 



" How large an increase would you think 

 best to make? " 



"That depends on your wants. Having 

 the colonies in proper condition, it is well to 

 decide whether a great increase of bees is 

 desired or a good crop of honey. Both can 

 not well be secured at the same time. If 

 we are satisfied with doubling our colonies, 

 and do that in time, a fairly good yield of 

 honey can be expected in most localities; 

 but a greater increase can not be ventured 

 upon without a great sacrifice of honey, 

 often to the exclusion of the whole crop." 



" I thank you very much for the informa- 

 tion given, and with the help of some bee- 

 book which I may get I think I shall suc- 

 ceed very well. What would you think of 

 my purchasing the A B C of Bee Culture as 

 that book? " 



" It is a good one. In fact, it is the only 

 bee-book that is kept up to date at all 

 times. You will certainly make no mistake 

 in purchasing it now; then when you can 

 do so, get others, which will tend to broad- 

 en your mind still further." 



