116 AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE- 



SUMMARY. 



Do not attempt the division of a swarm till drones are on tihe 

 wing, or at least until there is drone-comb within, and the cells 

 have been sealed for some days. 



If we select queens, we should select drones, at least they 

 should come from distinct mothers, if possible. 



There should be sufficient empty combs in that portion of a 

 division that are permitted to raise a new queen for themselves, 

 otherwise it is probable that the new combs constructed will con- 

 sist entirely of drone cells. 



Do not have anything to do with the division of swarms in 

 damp or cold weather. 



Leave the numerically weakest division on the old stand. 



Remember you are not likely to get a good queen from a weal 

 colony. 



Do not attempt to divide your colonies unless a fair amounti 

 of honey is coming in. 



Remember, also, a rapid increase of swarms by dividing, and 

 a good honey production, are not co-equal. Artificial swarming 

 is always done at the expense of the production of honey. 



In dividing, keep the brood in both divisions as compact as 

 they were before division, and keep the frames of brood in the 

 same order relatively. 



Three or four frames of brood will be enough to form a new 

 oolooiy, be sure you have the old queen with the new colony. 



