i5o 



THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW. 



there is nothing to do but insert the 

 transfer-stick and take them up; but, 

 with other pieces of comb, it may be 

 necessarj' to shghtly work the stick back 

 and forth as though it is to be shoved or 

 pulled out sidewise before it will adhere. 

 After one has been stretched too much to 

 fit the stick it cannot be taken up. Slight- 

 ly waxing the end of the stick may help 

 in obstinate cases. 



I prefer using larvae too small to be 

 seen, that are surrounded by clear or 

 slightlv milky food; but those larger 

 than the head of a brass pin can be trans- 

 ferred. 



When only a small wet spot can be 

 seen in the bottom of the cell the larva 

 will be accepted all right bj' queenless 

 bees; and one can rely upon being on 

 the right side as to age, as well as certain 

 of the fact that it has been amply fed up 

 to the time of the transfer; especially so 

 if the comb be given to bees anxious for 

 larv'te to feed a few hours before. 



The same comb will usually supply 

 larvze for three or four days if kept in 

 the breeder's hive as long; and by return- 

 ing the combs to the breeder after the 

 brood is sealed, there will nearly always 

 be one from which the bees are hatching 

 solidly, which will be filled with eggs 

 just as fast as the bees in the breeder's 

 hive feel the need of brood to feed. In 

 this way only one set of combs need be 

 cut. 



Some report better success when trans- 

 ferring larvie only -f no royal jelly be first 

 put into the cups, as the bees begin to 

 feed them as soon as they are transferred. 

 It certainly should be floating in the 

 milky food before it is transferred; and 

 at times when it is sticking to the bot- 

 toms of the cells with only enough around 

 it to keep it living, good queens need not 

 be expected if such be used. Then it is 

 that the comb from which it is to be 

 used should be given to bees without 

 brood at least twenty-four hours in ad- 

 vance. 



The majority will be more successful 

 n having cups accepted, and attain bet- 



ter results, if they first be given to bees 

 deprived of both queen and all unsealed 

 brood from six to twelve hours previousl}-. 



Nursing begins the instant they are 

 given, if the bees be long enough queen- 

 less to receive them, which is of vital im- 

 portance, as the larvse once neglected are 

 slow in development and result in 

 dwarfed queens. 



In preparing bees to start cells, it 

 hastens matters wonderfully if they be 

 shaken from the combs, whether it be 

 from the corribs of one hive on to those 

 of another, or right into the same hive. 



When they are thus disturbed they be- 

 gin to search for the queen immediately, 

 realizing, I suppose, that she is liable to 

 an accident under such treatment, and 

 they act very much like a swarm when 

 the queen is missed. 



If shaken from the combs .of a normal 



colony on to combs minus brood, from 



three to six hours is ample time and 



sometimes the cups have to be given 



• sooner to quiet them. 



At the time the greatest distress is 

 shown is when they will accept the 

 greatest number, and the chances for the 

 best results lessen as they reconcile 

 themselves to their condition. 



If one is making a business of queen 

 rearing he should keep a colony at work 

 as cell starters. Fill a body with combs 

 of brood and place it over the colony se- 

 lected, with an excluder between. Twelve 

 days later place this body on a bottom - 

 board, minus the most of the board, with 

 wire-cloth tacked on as a ventilator; stop 

 the entrance so that no bees can escape; 

 shake the bees from the combs and ex- 

 amine them for cells, removing any that 

 are found. 



Substitute a comb one-fourth full of 

 water, for one in the hive, or pour a little 

 water into one, as they will consume 

 quite a bit when thus shut up, and re- 

 move as many more as there are batches 

 of cells wanted, to make places between 

 other combs to receive them. 



The bees will cluster in the spaces thus 

 formed, and the cups can be inserted be- 



