23 



HOW TO INCREASE COLONIES OF BEES. 



Introduction. — ^Natural swarms should be prevented from 

 issuing, so far as possible, as in many cases they are lost, and, 

 even if safely hived, their formation not only interferes with 

 nectar collection at the height of the season, but weakens 

 the parent colony to such an extent that its value for produc- 

 ing surplus honey is reduced to very low limits. 



Under these circumstances every endeavour should be made 

 to increase colonies artificially. New colonies formed 

 artificially early in the season have every chance of becoming 

 strong and active honey producers ; besides which, the strength 

 of the parent colonies is reduced sufficiently to prevent them 

 swarming naturally, but not to aji extent which will interfere 

 with their honey production. 



Preparation for Increase — Colonies must be carefully 

 nursed to bring them to full strength early in the season. 

 Those requiring food should be given sufficient quantities of 

 syrup to induce the queen to lay more eggs than would be 

 the case if the bees were dependent upon the meagre supply 

 of nectar obtained from the few flowers in bloom at the time. 

 If a, superabundance of syrup is given, the unconsumed portion 

 is at once stared in the cells required for brood rearing, and 

 as a result the development of the colony is retarded. 



Colonies having an abundance of stored food should not be 

 fed with syrup, but brood production may be stimulated by 

 bruising the oappings covering the food situated nearest to 

 the brood nest. At the end of February, drinking water, to 

 each pint of which is added one teaspoonful of salt, should 

 te provided in a shallow vessel containing stones, to support 

 the bees while drinking and to prevent them drowning. The 

 water should be at least twelve feet away, further if possible, 

 from the hives, and should have a shade boaxd fixed about 

 eighteen inches above it to prevent the flying bees soihng it 

 with their excreta. Artificial pollen should also be supplied 

 by scattering pea flour on shavings or chopped hay in a box 

 placed in a position sheltered from the rain but accessible to 

 the bees. To assist thei bees to increase their number rapidly, 

 they must be crowded together and given no more combs 

 than they can cover thickly. This crowding is attained by 

 means of the division board, but as the strength of the colony 

 increases, other combs should be added, singly, as required. 



Before dealing with the general methods of artificial increase, 

 three points must be made clear:. — (1) Bees locate the position 

 of their home and not 'the hive to which they belong; thus, 

 if a stock is removed to a new position and is replaced by 

 another hive, those bees on the wing return to the new hive 

 in the original position. (2) Natural swarms are made up of 

 the oldest bees of the colony together with the old queen. 



