Franklin D. Humphrey Sr. wrote:
>
> I know of a hobbyist who winters 10 colonies and only 10 colonies each year.
> He winters in double brood chambers and splits each spring using queen cells
> or commercial queens as conditions require.  He then recombines  in the fall
> keeping the younger queen.  He has very few swarms using this method. In
> good years such as we had here in 93, the splits will make one or two supers
> of honey.  The splits are kept close beside the original colony so that if
> trouble develops in it then the split can become a brood donor or can easily
> become the primary producer.
>
> Net result: Virtualy no swarming and no net increase in number of coloines.
 
I tend to agree with your net result if that is in fact your goal.
 
However one coloney split in to two will not produce as much honey combined that same year as the one coloney would if retained as one.
Agreed the possibility of swarming is increased, but it depends again on your goal.
 
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