THOUSAND ANSWERS 133 



queen and leaving the old queen on the old stand. When each of 

 these becomes strong, divide again the same way. 



Q. As I am only 25 miles from you, please recommend the best 

 method to increase and still get a crop of honey, for our locality. 

 I have your book "Fifty Years Among the Bees." 



A. There are so many different circumstances and conditions 

 that it is not easy to say what system is best. What is best one 

 time may not be best another. In the book you mention the mat- 

 ter of increase is discussed as fully, at least, as in any book I 

 know of. After a careful study of what you find there, you will 

 be able to decide for yourself better than I could decide for you. 

 If, however, I were obliged to confine myself to any one plan, 

 with the idea of interfering little with the honey crop, I think it 

 would be the nucleus plan. With that you can make much or 

 little increase, and you need not draw from one colony enough to 

 hinder it from doing fair work in supers. But if by "still get a 

 crop of honey'' you mean to get as much as if you got no in- 

 crease, I don't believe you can make it in your location. That 

 only happens where there is an important fall flow. 



Q. Is the Swarthmore method, i. e., shaking the bees on full 

 sheets of foundation and then giving them a laying queen, better 

 than the Alexander method of increase, as in "A, B, C of Bee Cul- 

 ture?" 



A. Likely the Alexander plan may be better for you, as it al- 

 lows little or no chance for brood to be chilled. But if you expect 

 to double your crop of honey, as Mr. Alexander says you may, by 

 dividing, you are likely to be seriously disappointed unless you 

 have a heavy late flow, as Mr. Alexander had from the buckwheat. 



Increase, Alexander Plan. — Q. What is the best way to double 

 any number of colonies? 



A. Something depends upon circumstances what is the best 

 way. If you have had very little experience it may be best for 

 you to depend upon natural swarming, but allowing no after- 

 swarms. When a colony swarms, set the swarm on the old stand 

 and set the old hive close beside the new one. Then a week later 

 move the old one to a new place ten feet or more distant. That 

 will prevent afterswarms, and the swarms will give you surplus 

 if there is any surplus. 



If you prefer not to have natural swarming the Alexander plan 

 of increase may suit you. A little before it is time for bees to 

 swarm in your neighborhood, lift out of the hive all but one 



