I just today received a very good article on spring splits by David Burns of Long Lane Apiaries in Illinois. Here is a link:

http://home.ezezine.com/3057/3057-2011.03.04.13.11.archive.html

As for the terrain, your new queen will likely not be mating with your drones anyway, unless you are COMPLETELY isolated with no other bees around, in which case you should probably buy a mated queen.

Eugene Makovec
Missouri

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