258 Methods of Dividing. 



ing as detailed above, and may not — probably often does 

 not — secure quite as good results. Yet I am very sure from 

 a long experience, that with sufficient care, artificial colo- 

 nies may be formed that shall fully equal natural swarms 

 in the profits they bring to their owners. 



HOW TO DIVIDE. 



Mr. Cheshire argues against natural swarming and in 

 favor of dividing, as the former tends through selection to 

 develop the swarming habit. I do not accept his reason- 

 ing, as unless we permit swarming we can not tell what 

 colonies to breed from, as we have no way to know^ their 

 tendencies. Often, too, swarming only indicates great pro- 

 lificness. By the process already described, we have secured 

 a goodly number of fine queens, which will be in readiness 

 at the needed time. Now, as soon as the white clover har- 

 vest is well commenced, early in June, w^e may commence 

 operations. If we have but one colony to divide, it is well 

 to wait till they become prett}' populous, but not till they 

 swarm. Take one of our waiting hives, which now holds 

 a nucleus with laj'ing queen, and place the same close 

 alongside the colony we wish to divide. This must be 

 done on a warm day, when the bees are active, and better 

 be done while the bees are busv, in the middle of the day. 

 Remove the division board of the new hive, and then 

 remove five combs well loaded with brood, and of course 

 containing some honey, from the old colony, bees and all, 

 to the new hive. Also take the remaining frames and 

 shake the bees into the new hive; only be sure that the 

 queen still remains in the old hive. Fill both the hives 

 with empty frames — if the frames are filled with empty 

 comb it will be still better, if not, it will always pay to 

 give full frames of foundation — and return the new hive 

 to its former position. The old bees will return to the 

 old colony, while the voung ones will remain peaceably 

 with the new queen. The old colony will now possess at 

 least seven frames of brood, honey, etc., the old queen, and 

 plenty of bees, so thnt they will work on as though naught 

 had transpired, though perhaps moved to a little harder 

 effort, by the added space and five empty combs or frames 



