254 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 



would be taken to the out-apiary, and the ten frames put 

 in ten different hives. Of course every bee staid just 

 where it was put. To each of these was added another 

 frame of brood and adhering bees that had been brought 

 along, and whether these bees were queenless or not there 

 was nothing for them but to stay where they were put. 

 In the course of time these first-formed nuclei were 

 strong enough to help others, and the latest nuclei were 

 built up at once into fair colonies. 



INCREASING 9 WEAK COLONIES TO 56. 



In the year 1899, at the Hastings apiary, I increased 

 nine colonies to fifty-six, making them rear their own 

 queens, and building up mostly on foundation. No ad- 

 vantage was taken in the way of hauling colonies from 

 home to divide, and the same plan would work just as 

 well if I had had only one apiary. The increase was 

 very satisfactory, considering how weak the colonies 

 were at the start. May 29 there were only forty-one 

 combs containing any brood in the nine colonies, count- 

 ing each comb with brood, even if the patch of brood 

 were no larger than a silver dollar. I doubt if the nine 

 averaged any more than three and a half good frames 

 of brood each. On the other hand, the year was un- 

 usually favorable for increase, for there was a continu- 

 ous though not strong flow right through until, I think, 

 in September. 



No attempt could be made at increase until the col- 

 onies were stronger, and the first step looking in that 

 direction was not made until June 12. On that date No. 

 237 with its seven frames of brood and bees was taken 

 from its stand, and a hive of empty combs set on the 

 stand. The queen was found and put in the hive of 

 empty combs, which by this time had a good many bees 

 returning from the field. The queen of No. 237 was 



