MONTHLY MANAGEMENT. 189 



If increase of stocks is the object much feeding is required, and new 

 comb continually inserted to the capacity of ten or twelve frames, ac- 

 cording to size. As soon as drones begin to hatch, by the middle or last 

 of May. divide the strongest hive, by finding the queen and removing 

 the comb to which she adheres and one or two more to a new hive, add- 

 ing from two to four frames of artificial comb, according to the strength 

 of the colony. Bemove the old hive to a new locality and place the new 

 one upon the old stand. The old one will rear a number of queen cells 

 ready for insertion into other hives as swarms are made by either of the 

 methods recommended under " Artificial Swarming." "We would advise 

 the above method or that of taking two combs from each of four hives 

 and inserting empty ones in their places for beginners, giving each a 

 queen cell, when made . 



The novice should never attempt to more than double his colonies. 

 He may expect the best results if he only makes one new swarm from 

 each two, especially if he uses the extractor. We would advise getting 

 an extractor, even though not more than two hives are kept. 



These directions, concerning swarming, apply in many places to June, 

 according to strength of colonies. If bees begin to " lay out " when the 

 hives are crowded, they should be divided, the combs extracted, artificial 

 foundation given, or honey boxes put on. Sometimes giving boxes will 

 not set bees to work, and unless an extractor is at hand they should be 

 divided. If surplus honey and not increase is sought, the extractor is 

 almost essential. If it is freely used there is much less danger of swarm- 

 ing. Sometimes bees will take the swarming fever. If so, it is best to 

 swarm them, raise young queens, as described above, and then reunite 

 them with the young queens, giving ample surplus space in boxes at 

 the top and sides, or by filling both the upper and lower chambers with 

 combs, and foundation combs wnen the extractor is chiefly relied on. 



