30 June, 1910.] 



The Rearing of Queen Bees. 



371 



the surplus lar\ae. Those of the wrong age and any eggs which may i)e 

 present are removed, leaving as far as possible one larva of the right age 

 in everv third cell. These strips of comb are then fixed in gaps cut into 

 a comb and gi\-en to queenless bees for 6 to 12 hours to mould queen-cups 

 round the larvee. Thev are then fitted into an outside brood comb of the 

 superseding colonies. 



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2. QL'EEX CELLS GROL PED IN COMB. 



When the cells are .sealed the strips may be renioved and grouped into 

 a com-b, as shown in Fig. 2. This is placed into the super of a strong 

 colony over a queen excluder where they may remain till distributed in 

 ■cell protectors to nuclei about the tenth or eleventh dav after they are 

 started. Started queen-cells may again be given to the colonies which 

 raised the cells as soon as the sealed cells are removed hut the brood 

 combs should be examined occasionally for a cell they may be raising on 

 their ow^n account. Three to six cells are all I raise in a superseding 

 colony at a time. When greater numbers are raised they are not so perfect. 

 The thirteen cells in Fig. 2 are on three strips, each from a different 

 superseding colony. 



The great advantage of this method of queen-rearing is that, having 

 a laying queen in the hive, the liees will not rai.se the cells given, unless 

 condii-ions are as thev should be. Xo inferior queens will therefore 

 result. 



