MANUAL OP THB APIARY. 171 



CHAPTER X. 



INCREASE OF COLONIES. 



No subject will be of more interest to the beginner, tlian 

 that of increasing stocks. He has one or two, he desires as 

 many score, or, if very aspiring, as many hundred, and if a 

 Hetherington or a Harbison, as many thousand. 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 tin 

 increase of stocks. 



Before proceeding to name the ways, or to detail 

 methods, let me state and enforce, that it is always safest, 

 and generally wisest, especially for the beginner, to be con- 

 tent with • doubling, and certainly, with tripling, his number 

 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 artificial, improperly styled artificial swarming. This is 

 also called, and very properly, too, "dividing." 



SWARMING. 



To preven#anxiety and constant watching, and to secure a 

 more equable division of bees, and, as I know, more honey,- 

 it is better to provide against swarming entirely by use of 

 means which will appear in the sequel. But as this requires 

 some experience, and, as often, through neglect, either neces- 

 sary or culpable, swarms may issue, every apiarist should be 

 ever ready with both means and knowledge for immediate 

 action. Of course, the hives were all made the previous 

 winter, and will never he, wantincj. Neglect to provide 

 hives before the swarming season, is convincing proof that 

 the wrong pursuit has been chosen. 



If, as we have advised, the queen has her wing clipped, the 



