74 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



that the queens confined themselves 

 exclusively to the brood-nest. 



THE PART THAT DRONE CELL FOUNDA- 

 TION PLAYS IN THE PROBLEM. 



The past season has been prolific in 

 methods developing the non-swarmer. 

 Knowing- that bees seldom deposit pol- 

 len in drone comb, I concluded to ex- 

 periment with over 1,000 sections con- 



in two ways. In the development of a 

 principle many of the difficulties over- 

 come are attended with a correspond- 

 ing evil; which, upon being eliminated, 

 gives us more than was anticipated. 

 In respect to the latter, drone cell 

 foundation abovethe brood nest entirely 

 eliminates the storage of pollen; and 

 with sections containing worker-cell 

 foundation at each end of the section 



Front Elevation, Showing Slatted Dummies 

 Alternating one Another. 



tainingdronecell foundation. Although 

 fearing the queen might occupy them, 

 I was agreeably surprised to find that 

 but four sections out of the whole num- 

 ber contained a few cells of brood; 

 which I could readily account for. If, 

 however, sections containing drone 

 cell foundation be placed on swarming 

 hives, a crowded condition of the brood 

 chamber would be likely to force the 

 queen above and occupy such cells in 

 the laying of eggs. The slatted dum- 

 mies of a non-swarmer prevent the 

 crowded condition, and overcome all 

 tendency to crowd the queen, which is 

 a factor inducing the swarming im- 

 pulse. 



In the field of invention the unex- 

 pected invariably happens. It occurs 



holders (where no pollen is likely to be 

 stored), a wonderful impetus is given 

 to the storage of honey. By this ar- 

 rangement we give the bees just what 

 they build when left to instinct — 

 both kinds of comb. We frequently 

 find worker foundation in sections 

 largely changed to drone size, thus 

 displaying their^ instinctive demands 

 relative to the construction of comb. 

 Using three sections of drone founda- 

 tion, and but two of worker size, which 

 are placed at each end of the holder, 

 thus making an outside row, induces 

 the bees to complete them (the outside 

 ones) much sooner than if all con- 

 tained the same sized cells. This 

 rapid filling of the outside sections, 

 which is due to the excess of drone size 



