190 AUSTRALASIAN 
“‘ dividing,” or, as it is commonly but not very appropriately 
termed, “artificial swarming.” ach of these methods has 
certain advantages; the modern system of movable frame 
hives, the use of comb-foundation, and the aid of queen- 
rearing give wonderful facilities for dividing colonies in a way 
which was quite impossible with the old straw skeps or box 
hives With them it was only practicable to force a colony to 
swarm by “driving” the bees, and that process was properly 
enough called artificial swarming ; but the modern process of 
dividing is quite a different thing, as we shall see presently. 
The same improvements, however, which render this artificial 
mode of increase so practicable, also give great facilities for 
controlling to a great extent the operations of natural swarm- 
ing. There has been considerable difference of opinion even 
among experienced bee-keepers as to which mode of increase 
should be practised. Many leading men still think that the 
natural swarming system possesses advantages which more 
than counterbalance some very obvious inconveniences which 
attend it ; while on the other hand there are many among the 
most advanced apiarists who are in favour of the dividing 
method, which undoubtedly is capable of being carried out 
with extraordinary success by experts. Some writers go so 
far as to say that no intelligent bee-keeper with a full know- 
ledge of his business should allow a natural swarm to take 
place in his apiary. I do not like to lay down such dog- 
matical rules. I am firmly of opinion, after practising both 
methods of increase pretty extensively, that except under 
special circumstances or in the hands of expert apiarists, 
natural swarming, controlled according to modern practice, is 
productive of as good results as any known method of artificial 
increase ; and ] am sure it will be wiser for the beginner to follow 
its practice at first, and until he shall feel himself capable of 
carrying out the non-swarming or dividing method with perfect 
ease and certainty. I shall therefore say what has to be said 
with respect to both systems, leaving it to the judgment of the 
reader to determine whether the one or the other should be 
adopted, either as a general rule or under special circumstances. 
NATURAL SWARMING. 
The natural instinct for swarming, with which bees are 
endowed, is an admirable provision for the propagation of their 
