153 NATURAL AKB ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 



queen-cells, and if any are found, containing larvae, 

 it will indicate the absence of the queen. Additional 

 evidence is furnished by the absence of eggs in the brood- 

 combs. The necessity for keeping colonies supplied with 

 queens, and the means therefor, are indicated in the 

 chapter on "Increase." 



MORE THAN ONE QUEEN IN A HIVE. 



While it is a rule that each colony will contain but one 

 queen, there will occasionally be exceptions. As men- 

 tioned in regard to introducing queens, I have had proof 

 of these exceptions in my own experience. We have also 

 the testimony of others to the same effect. I knew an 

 instance where the old queen was allowed to remain with 

 the young one until they were put in winter quarters. Mr. 

 Ira Barber, of this State, had two queens in one hive 

 during the latter part of the season, which were wintered 

 together. I mention these instances to show that many 

 of the habits of the bee may be sufficiently uniform to 

 constitute a rule, yet it is hardly wise to consider them 

 invariable. 



CHAPTER IX. 

 NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 



NATURAL INCREASE. 



Good bee-keepers differ widely upon this subject. 

 Many claim that no method of increase can equal natural 

 swarming, but it has become a conviction with most, if 

 not all, intelligent bee-keepers, that there is a wiser way 

 than to allow unrestricted natural swarming. Let us 

 notice the condition of a hive, previous to, and during 

 the swarming interval. For several days before the issue 



