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to the fact that at no period when the colonies are strong aje 

 they queenless. 



3'. Making one Extra Colony by Utilizing a Number of 

 Others. — In this method the increase is obtained by utihsing 

 several strong colonies of bees. An example showing the 

 utilization of three colonies may be given :■. — From two of the 

 colonies remove three combs of brood without the adhering 

 bees, and replace them with frajnes fitted with full sheets of 

 wired worker base foundation. The six combs of brood, thus 

 obtained, should then be placed in the centre of a fresh hive, 

 with a couple of frames fitted with full sheets of wired worker 

 base foundation on either side, thus making the number of 

 frames up to ten. The third colony, from wliich no brood has 

 been removed, is moved to a new site, and is replaced by the 

 hive containing the brood combs, which is then populated by 

 the flying bees from the stock that has been removed to a 

 new site. These bees will rear a queen from the eggs in the 

 combs. If, as stated in method 1, a fertile or virgin queen 

 or ripe queen cell can be given, it vnll be a great .advantage. 

 This- principle can be applied to a larger number of colonies 

 by ta-kiTig fewer brood combs from each, always arranging 

 for one colony from which no brood combs have been taken 

 to supply the bees. The parent colonies used in forming the 

 nucleus will be reduced in strength sufficiently to prevent 

 them, in the majority of cases, from swarming naturally, 

 and, provided care is exercised, will not be weakened to such 

 a degree that honey production is decreased to any great 

 extent. 



4. Eornutiion of an Artificial Swarm. — This is made in the 

 following manner. Open the hive' containing the selected 

 colony about ten o'clock on the morning of a fine day. Search 

 for the queen and when found, place the comb on which she 

 is, together with the adhering bees, in a fresh hive in the 

 centre of nine frames fitted with full sheets of wired worker 

 base foundation. Remove the parent stock to a new site and 

 stand the fresh hive in its place; the bees from the parent 

 stock which are out collecting nectar will, as in the other 

 cases mentioned, return to this hive and so found a new 

 colony. The young bees left in the parent stock will rear a 

 queen, or a fertile or virgin queen or ripe queen cell can be 

 given with advantage. 



5. To obtain surplus Honey and yet retain increase of 

 stock in tlve case of a colony swarming naturally. — When, in 

 spite of all precautions, a colony having a super or supers on 

 it throws off a natural swarm, first hive the swarm into a 

 temporary home (box or skep), then remove the parent stock 

 to a new site, replacing it with a fresh hive containing ten 

 frames fitted with full sheets of wired worker base foundation. 

 Remove the supers, with their occupants, from the parent 

 stock and place them over the frames in the new hive. Then 



