188 AUSTRALASIAN 
CH A Pah 2G: 
INCREASE OF STOCKS—NATURAL SWARMING— 
DIVIDING. 
THE question of the increase of stocks in an apiary, how to 
promote, control, or even to prevent it, is one of importance in 
all cases, and one which must be treated by each bee-keeper 
according to the special objects he has in view—the first point 
to be determined being 
WHAT RATE OF INCREASE IS DESIRABLE, 
It may be desirable to stock a new apiary as quickly as 
possible, or, if opportunity offers, to dispose profitably of a 
number of colonies; in which case the largest increase com- 
patible with the formation of none but strong colonies must be 
worked for, regardless of a honey harvest. If the object be 
to form an apiary gradually, and with the least outlay of 
capital, the best plan will be to try for such a moderate annual 
increase of stocks as may be consistent with securing a fair 
return in honey at the same time ; or, lastly, if the apiary has 
attained the full extent intended, the bee-keeper will naturally 
want to obtain the greatest possible quantity of honey from a 
fixed number of hives; and it then becomes a question whether 
that end may be best secured by suppressing all increase, as 
far as it is possible to do so. 
CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH AFFECT A DECISION. 
Having settled the preliminary question of large, moderate, 
or no increase, the bee-keeper will next have to consider the 
circumstances with which he has to deal and which may exert 
an influence upon the results he wishes to attain. These may 
be said to consist chiefly in: 1, the climate, as it affects the 
