18 . FARMERS' BULLETIN, No. 129. 



THE ARTIFICIAL INCREASE OF THE COLONY. 



To be able to increase the number of colonies by artificial methods is of con- 

 siderable assistance to the competent apiarist, but beginners are' often anxious 

 to carry out the work without giving sufficient consideration to the particular 

 conditions under which this method of increase is made practicable and 

 beneficial. The beginner is advised first to attend to the colonies on hand, 

 using every endeavour to make them as populous as possible; then, after 

 making a close study of the conditions essential to the system, artificial 

 increase may be tried in a small way. 



These conditions may be set out as follows : — (1) The colonies should be 

 ■populous, and in a progressive state in relation to brood-raising; (2) the 

 weather should be fine and warm; (3) the increase should be made early in 

 the season — preferably during the late spring; and (4) there should be 

 indication of a fair provision in the way of flora for the prospective young 

 colonies. It must be remembered, too, that the highest production is gained 

 Tvith moderate increase. When moderate increase is desired, the principle 

 of dividing the colonies is usually preferred; moderate or extensive increase 

 ■can be made, however, by forming " nuclei." 



Forming Nuclei for Increase. 



The foregoing conditions having been fulfilled it is next necessary to. 

 prepare a number of hives or nuclei, to contain four or five frames , the latter 

 to contain full sheets of comb foundation. In the case of a beginner it is 

 advisable to purchase the required number of untested Italian queen bees. 

 "The procedure is then as follows : — 



First fit a piece of wire cloth across the entrance, pressing the cloth well 

 into it before fastening in order that the bees shall not be jammed in thei^^ 

 efforts to get out. Take three or four of the prepared hi^fes to the colony 

 to be manipulated, find and cage the queen, remove one frame from against 

 the wall of the body containing the brood nest, and space the remaining 

 frames, thus allowing extra room for the bees to cluster on the frames to be 

 removed later ; put the cover on the portion of the hive containing the brood 

 nest and shake the majority of the bees from any supers as near to the entrance 

 as possible, only a little smoke being necessary to hurry most of them into the 

 hive. Give each nucleus two frames of brood and bees, one frame of honey, 

 -and one empty comb or full sheet of foundation. The foundation or empty 

 xjomb should be against the wall of the hive ; then the brood, and the frame 

 of honey to act as a follower. If the queen bees are at hand, they can now 

 be put in according to the directions on the label of the package containing 

 them. If the cage will fit on the top of the frames screen downward all 

 the better; if not, it should be between the frames, and the latter pressed 

 up, care being taken to allow some communication through the screen. 

 The cover can be put on immediately after each nucleus has been given to 

 the bees, brood, &c. For extra ventilation put underneath the cover a thin 

 wedge. 



Should a; hive contain nine frames of brood, then four nuclei maybe made 

 and one frame left with the parent colony; the queen could then be liberated 

 on this frame, and the full complement of frames, containing full sheets 

 ^t foundation or good breeding oombs, put in the hive. The supers should 

 •be placed above an excluder. The nuclei can be placed on stands in the 



