320 UNITING STOCKS. 



same range of comb, which may again be replenished by 

 the queen, in the same uniform manner, without losing time 

 in seeking for empty cells, amid a number still occupied by 

 lirood. Such a queen should be preserved, till a diminution 

 of fertility becomes apparent." — [Wagner.] It is very evi- 

 dent that some queens are much more orderly and sys- 

 tematic than others, and are thus able to dispatch a much 

 larger amount of business! 



In districts where the honey harvest is of very short con- 

 tinuance, the non-swarming plan maybe found to yield the 

 largest quantity of honey, and if the season should prove 

 unfavorable for the gathering of honey, it will usually secure 

 the largest returns from a given number of stocks. I there- 

 fore prefer to keep a considerable nramber of my colonies, 

 on the storifying plan, and always secure from them, some 

 honey, even in the most unfavorable seasons. Bee-keepers 

 following my e.xample, will not only be on the safe side, but 

 will be able to determine which method the honey resources 

 of their district, or a regard to iheir own convenience, will 

 make it best for them to adopt, in order to secure the most 

 from their bees. As a general rule, the Apiarian who in- 

 creases the number of his colonies, one third in a season, 

 making one very powerful swarm from two, (See p. 211,) 

 will have more surplus honey from the three, than he could 

 have obtained from the two, to say nothing of the value of 

 his new swarms. If, at the approach of Winter, he wishes 

 to reduce his stocks down to the Spring number, he may 

 unite them in tke manner described, appropriating all the 

 good honey of those which he breaks up, and saving all 

 their empty comb for the new colonies of the next season. 

 The bees in the double stock will winter most admirably ; 

 will consume less honey, in proportion to their numbers, and 

 be in most excellent condition when the Spring opens. 



