MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

THOUSAND ANSWERS 133queen and leaving the old queen on the old stand.these becomes strong, divide again the same way.When each ofQ. As I am only 25 miles from you, please recommend the bestmethod to increase and still get a crop of honey, for our locality.I have your book "Fifty Years Among the Bees."A. There are so many different circumstances and conditionsthat it is not easy to say what system is best. What is best onetime may not be best another. In the book you mention the matterof increase is discussed as fully, at least, as in any book Iknow of. After a careful study of what you find there, you willbe able to decide for yourself better than I could decide for you.If, however, I were obliged to confine myself to any one plan,with the idea of interfering little with the honey crop, I think itwould be the nucleus plan. With that you can make much orlittle increase, and you need not draw from one colony enough tohinder it from doing fair work in supers. But if by "still get acrop of honey'' you mean to get as much as if you got no increase,I don't believe you can make it in your location. Thatonly happens where there is an important fall flow.Q. Is the Swarthmore method, i. e., shaking the bees on fullsheets of foundation and then giving them a laying queen, betterthan the Alexander method of increase, as in "A, B, C of Bee Culture?"A. Likely the Alexander plan may be better for you, as it allowslittle or no chance for brood to be chilled. But if you expectto double your crop of honey, as Mr. Alexander says you may, bydividing, you are likely to be seriously disappointed unless youhave a heavy late flow, as Mr. Alexander had from the buckwheat.Increase, Alexander Plan.—Q. What is the best way to doubleany number of colonies?A. Something depends upon circumstances what is the bestway. If you have had very little experience it may be best foryou to depend upon natural swarming, but allowing no afterswarms.When a colony swarms, set the swarm on the old standand set the old hive close beside the new one. Then a week latermove the old one to a new place ten feet or more distant. Thatwill prevent afterswarms, and the swarms will give you surplusif there is any surplus.If you prefer not to have natural swarming the Alexander planof increase may suit you. A little before it is time for bees toswarm in your neighborhood, lift out of the hive all but one