21 8 A Modern Bee-farm 



but in any case it is not desirable to take more than one 

 swarm from the old stock ; and this division to give the 

 best results should be made either before the first honey- 

 flow occurs, providing the colony can be made strong at 

 that time, or during July, when little work is generally 

 being carried on by the bees in most districts. But, that 

 we may allow for uniting in the autumn, it will be safe to 

 reckon only upon 50 per cent, increase, as it is imperative 

 that all be kept in good condition. In the table of esti- 

 mates this has been placed at a much lower rate, so that 

 there is little fear of the apiarist weakening his stock. 



A division of stocks can also be made during any^ 

 interval of dearth, if not too late in the season, but in 

 any case a young queen should be on hand. The 



operation of 



Dividing 



will consist in removing from a strong colony one-half of" 

 the brood combs containing mostly hatching brood, with 

 the bees clustering thereon, as well as the queen ; placing 

 these in a new location, with all the brood near the centre 

 of the hive with empty combs or foundation on either side 

 of the same. The brood combs remaining on the old 

 stand are to be alternated with foundation, as the larger 

 number of bees will be here, and on the evening of the 

 third day following, unite with them the nucleus having a 

 young queen, or insert the queen alone if the nucleus is 

 again required. The reason for waiting three days in this 

 case is solely because of the bees returning from the 

 removed portion which may not always be friendly to the 

 queen which they know is not the one they have just left. 

 Having their own queen, there are not so many bees 

 leave that portion placed in another situation, and possess- 

 ing the older brood the hive will soon be crowded, when 

 the outside sheets of foundation are to be inserted one or 



