ABTTFICIAL SWAEMING. 179 



A certain rather than a rapid multiplication of stocks, 

 is most needed. A single colony, doubling every year, 

 would in ten years increase to 1,024 stocks, and in twenty 

 years to over a million ! At this rate, our whole country 

 might, in a few years, be stocked with bees ; an increase 

 of one-third, annually, would soon give us enough. This 

 latter rate of increase should be encouraged, even if, in the 

 Fall, the stocks are reduced (see Union of Stocks), to the 

 Spring number ; as, in the long run, it will both keep the 

 colonies in the most prosperous condition, and secure the 

 largest yield of honey. 



I have never myself hesitated to sacrifice several colo- 

 nies, in order to ascertain a single fact ; and it would 

 require a large volume, to detail my various experiments 

 on the single subject of artificial swarming. The practical 

 bee-keeper, however, should never lose sight of the im- 

 portant distinction between an Apiary managed princi- 

 pally for purposes of observation and discovery, and one 

 conducted exclusively with reference to pecuniary profit.* 

 Any bee-keeper can easily experiment with my hives; 

 but he should do it, at first, only on a small scale, and if 

 pecuniary profit is his object, should follow my directions, 

 until he is sure that he has discovered others which are 

 better. These cautions are given to prevent serious losses 

 in using hives which, by facilitating all manner of experi- 

 ments, may tempt the inexperienced into rash and un- 

 profitable courses. Beginners, especially, should follow my 

 directions as closely as possible ; for, although they may 

 doubtless be modified and improved, it can only be done 

 by those experienced in managing bees. 



Let me not be understood as wishing to intimate that 

 perfection has been so nearly attained, that no more 



* Prof. Siebold says, that Berlepsch told him, that some of his hives " had been 

 very much prejudiced by the various scientific experiments." 



