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.
 
Frank Humphrey
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