BEES. 45 
Queens sold by breeders are always mated unless otherwise speci- 
fied, and consequently the colony in which they are introduced has 
no effect on her offspring. During the active season the bees in the 
colony are all the offspring of the new queen in about nine weeks. 
Three weeks is required for the previous brood to emerge (if the 
colony has not been queenless), and in six weeks after all the old 
brood emerges most of the workers from it will have died. Queens 
are usually sold according to the following classification: 
““ Untested queen’’—one that has mated, but the race of the drone 
is not known. 
““ Tested queen’’—one that has mated and has been kept only long 
enough to show, from the markings of her progeny, that she mated 
with a drone of her own race. 
“‘ Breeding queen’’—a tested queen which has shown points of supe- 
riority, making her desirable for breeding purposes. 
DEALERS IN BEE KEEPERS’ SUPPLIES. 
There are several manufacturers of supplies in this country who 
ean furnish almost anything desired by the bee keeper. Some of 
them have agents in various parts of the country from whom supplies 
may be purchased, thus 
saving considerable in 
freight. 
BEE KEEPERS’ ASSO- 
CIATIONS. 
There are a large num- 
ber of associations of bee 
keepers in all parts of 
the country, formed for 
the betterment of the industry, and a few associations which are organ- 
ized to aid the members in purchasing supplies and in selling the crops. 
Of these the National Bee Keepers’ Association is the largest. It helps 
its members in cbtaining their legal rights, and aids in securing legisla- 
tion for the furtherance of the industry. The annual conventions are 
held in different parts of the country, and copies of the proceedings are 
sent to the members. There are also numerous State, county, and 
town associations, some of which publish proceedings. The names 
of officers of the nearest associations or of the National Bee Keepers’ 
Association will be sent from this department on request. 
Fig. 25.—Queen mailing cage. 
LAWS AFFECTING BEEKEEPING. 
Disease inspection.—Various States have passed laws providing 
for the State or county inspection of apiaries for bee-disease control, 
and every bee keeper should get in touch with an inspector when 
447 
