OR, MANUAI, OF THB APIARY. 293 



CHAPTER X, 



INCREASE OF COLONIES. 



No subject will be of more interest to the beginner than 

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

 many more, or, if very aspiring, as many hundred, and if a 

 Jones, a Hetherington, or a Harbison, as many thousand. This 

 is a subject, too, that may well engage the thought and study 

 of men of no inconsiderable experience. I believe that many 

 veterans are not practicing the best methods in obtaining an 

 increase of colonies. 



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 number of colo- 

 nies 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 swarming. 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. Therefore, the apiarist should be always ready 

 with both means and knowledge for immediate action. Of 

 course, necessary hives were all secured the previous winter, 

 and will never be wanling. Neglect to provide hives before 

 the swarming season is convincing proof that the wrong pur- 

 suit 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 suflScient to 



