248 Swarming Preferred. 
CHAPTER X. 
INCREASE OF COLONIES. 
No subject will be of more interest to the beginner, than 
that of increasing stocks. He has one or, two, he desires 
as many score, or, if very aspiring, as many hundred, and 
if a Jones, a Hetherington, or a Harbison, as many thou- 
sand. This is a subject, too, that may well engage the 
thought and study of men of no inconsiderable experience. 
I believe that many veterans are not practicing the best 
methods in obtaining an increase of stocks. 
Before proceeding to name the ways, or to detail the 
methods, let me state and enforce that it is always safest, 
and generally wisest, especially for the beginner, to be 
content with doubling, or certainly with tripling, his num- 
ber of colonies each season. Especially let all remember 
the motto: “Keep all colonies strong.” 
There are two ways to increase: The natural, known 
as swarming, already described under natural history of the 
bee; and the artificial, improperly styled artificial swarm- 
ing.. This is also called and more properly “dividing.” 
SWARMING. 
In case of the specialist, or in case some one can be near 
by to watch the bees, swarming is without doubt the best 
way to increase, and probably in most cases it is profitable 
and so desirable, even though the bee-keeper has all the. 
colonies he cares for. Therefore the apiarist should be 
always ready with both means and knowledge for immedi- 
ate action. Of course, necessary hives were all secured the 
previous winter, axd will never be wanting. Neglect to 
provide hives before the swarming season is convincing 
proof that the wrong pursuit has been chosen. 
If, as I have advised, the queen has her wing clipped, 
the matter becomes very simple, in fact, so much simplified 
that were there no other argument, this would be sufficient 
to recommend the practice of clipping the queen’s wing. 
