NATUEAL AND ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 165 



"Artificial Increase," I advise those who can do so, not 

 to allow them to fly. 



I recommend these latter methods, for those who feel in- 

 competent to judge of the proper time to make swarms. 

 In the latter case, the occurrence of swarming determines 

 the period for the operation, while in the former, the 

 bee-keeper must select the colony, and use his discretion 

 as to whether it is in condition to furnish a swarm. By 

 observing the indications of the queen cells, it is easily seen 

 if a swarm will soon be ready, and it may be made arti- 

 ficially, thus avoiding the annoyances mentioned as occur- 

 ring when they are allowed to issue in the natural way. 



ARTIFICIAL INCREASE. 



Those who wish to increase their colonies by the best 

 methods, and avoid the perplexities of natural swarming, 

 will do so by dividing, or as otherwise termed, making 

 artificial swarms. It is impossible to state the precise 

 date when this increase can be most profitably made, as it 

 will vary in different seasons and localities, as well as in 

 individual stocks in the same apiary. Increase in quan- 

 tity of bees, should at all times be borne in mind, but 

 when it is wise to increase swarms, is quite another matter. 

 I maintain that it is never best to divide, until all weak 

 colonies have been built up to a proper standard, by tak- 

 ing brood from stronger ones. If the bee-keeper is so 

 fortunate as to possess none but good swarms, he may add 

 combs from time to time, so that, at the proper period 

 for boxing, or dividing, there may be a larger number of 

 combs spared from the old stock. Often it is more de- 

 sirable to occupy the colonies to the best advantage in 

 this way, than to increase them earlier. When colonies 

 are populous, and honey plenty, it is safe to divide. 

 There are various practicable methods, but after careful 

 trial, I shall advise but two. The first is this : In the 

 middle of a fine dav. when the bees are busy at work. 



