CHAPTER XI. 



INCREASE— NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL 

 SWARMING. 



The question of increase of colonies, how to promote 

 control, or to prevent it as far as possible, is one of very 

 great importance, and one which should be earnestly 

 studied, and be treated by each individual bee-keeper 

 according to the special object he has in view. The 

 experienced bee-keeper will have no trouble in deciding 

 on this point, but the beginner needs the advice of an 

 expert, and some beginners need it very urgently, to 

 prevent them in their ardent desire for rapid increase 

 from creating difficulties which in their inexperience 

 they will be unable to overcome. I have known many 

 such cases, and warn all beginners to "Go Slow," 

 until sufficient experience has been gained to enable 

 them to form an intelligent judgment as to their best 

 course. 



WHAT RATE OF INCREASE IS DESIRABLE? 



Following up the advice just given to beginners, to " Go 

 Slow," two or three colonies is a sufficient number to 

 start with, to be increased the first season to four or 

 six. By that time some experience will have been 

 gained, and if the object be then to gradually work up 

 a large apiary, a larger increase may be undertaken 

 the second season. It is, however, well to bear in mind 

 the excellent maxim laid down by "Father" Langstroth, 

 viz : — " A moderate increase in any one season proves 

 the easiest, safest, and cheapest mode of managing 

 bees." A moderate annual increase is consistent with 

 securing a fair return in honey, and this should be the 

 aim of beginners. 



