152 NATURAL AND 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. J 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 
