CHAPTER XII 



HOW TO MAKE INCREASE 



^WARMING is nature's method of in- 

 ^^ crease, but it is so uncertain and this 

 with the possible loss of swarms emerging 

 during the beekeeper's absence, has led pro- 

 fessional beekeepers to adopt artificial methods 

 of increase that are absolutely under the 

 control of the operator. Generally speaking, 

 natural swarming is a very uncertain depen- 

 dence for increase, as there are many years 

 when it will hardly more than make up for 

 winter losses, and he who would increase his 

 colonies materially must adopt methods of 

 division that will give him the desired number 

 of extra colonies. 



When it comes to a matter of simply doub- 

 ling the number of colonies, division is com- 

 paratively easy and safe even in the hands of 



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