i^S Swarming Preferred, 



CHAPTER X. 

 Increase of Colonies. 



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

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

 as many score, or, if very asph'ing, as many hundred, and 

 if a Jones, a Hetherington, or a Harbison, as many thou- 

 sand. This is a subject, too, that may well engage the 

 thought and study of ixien of no inconsiderable experience. 

 I believe that many veterans are not practicing the best 

 methods in obtaining an increase of stocks. 



Before proceeding to name the ways, or to detail the 

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

 and generally wisest, especially for the beginner, to be 

 content with doubling, or certainly with tripling, his num- 

 ber 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 the artificial, improperly styled artificial swarm- 

 ing. This is also called and more properly "dividing." 



SWARMING. 



In case of the specialist, or in case some one can be near 

 by to watch the bees, swarming is without doubt the best 

 way to increase, and probably in most cases it is profitable 

 and so desirable, even though the bee-keeper has all the 

 colonies he cares for. Therefore the apiarist should be 

 always ready with both means and knowledge for immedi- 

 ate action. Of course, necessary hives were all secured the 

 previous winter, and will ?iever be wanting-. Neglect to 

 provide hives before the swarming season is convincing 

 proof that the wrong pursuit has been chosen. 



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

 the matter becomes very simple, in fact, so much simplified 

 that were there no other argument, this would be sufficient 

 to recommend the practice of clipping the queen's wing. 



