258 Methods of Dividing. 
ing as detailed above, and may not—probably often does 
not—secure quite as good results. Yet Iam very sure from 
- a long experience, that with sufficient care, artificial colo- 
nies may be formed that shall fully equal natural swarms 
in the profits they bring to their owners. 
HOW TO DIVIDE. 
Mr. Cheshire argues against natural swarming and in 
favor of dividing, as the former tends through selection to 
develop the swarming habit. Ido not accept his reason- 
ing, as unless we permit swarming we can not tell what 
colonies to breed from, as we have no way to know their 
tendencies. Often, too, swarming only indicates great pro- 
lificness. By the process already described, we have secured 
a goodly number of fine queens, which will be in readiness 
at the needed time. Now, as soon as the white clover har- 
vest is well commenced, early in June, we may commence 
operations. If we have but one colony to divide, it is well 
to wait till they become pretty populous, but not till they 
swarm. ‘Take one of our waiting hives, which now holds 
a nucleus with laying queen, and place the same close 
alongside the colony we wish to divide. This must be 
done on a warm day, when the bees are active, and better 
be done while the bees are busy, in the middle of the day. 
Remove the division board of the new hive, and then 
remove five combs well loaded with brood, and of course 
containing some honey, from the old colony, bees and all, 
to the new hive. Also take the remaining frames and 
shake the bees into the new hive; only be sure that the 
gueen still remains in the old hive. Fill both the hives 
with empty frames—if the frames are filled with empty 
comb it will be still better, if not, it will always pay to 
give full frames of foundation—and return the new hive 
to its former position, The old bees will return to the 
old colony, while the young ones will remain peaceably 
with the new queen. The old colony will now possess at 
least seven frames of brood, honey, etc., the old queen, and 
plenty of bees, so that they will work on as though naught 
had transpired, though perhaps moved to a little harder 
effort, by the added space and five empty combs or frames 
