THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



311 



from the bottom story or from other col- 

 onies in the apiary. I prefer to remove 

 the screen near sunset, and to disturb the 

 bees as Uttle as possil^le with smoke or 

 otherwise. 



The queen in the lower stOTy need not 

 be removed, if thought best, until the 

 proper time comes for removing the di- 

 viding screen. By this means there may 

 be no loss whatever in egg laying. 



I allow no bees to fly or go outside of 

 the top story until after both stories have 

 been united, as stated. In fact, the 

 young bees in the top story will have no 

 special desire to fl\- during the first week 

 of their lives. Nor will there be much 

 hatching larvie to feed. 

 • Vou will see, friend H., that my plan 

 makes an incubator of the lower colony 

 and does away with any loss to the hatch- 

 ing brood, or the new queen, by reason 

 of any sudden change in the temperature 

 of the weather or from robber bees. Try 

 my plan and report. 



St. Ch.\rles, Ills. Aug. 25, 1900. 



^ p^ OBACCQ SMOKE A "SURE 

 THING" FOR INTRODUCING 

 yUKKNS. BY B. F. J0NF:S. 



M. D. 



Recently, I have noticed 

 articles on introducing queens by the aid 

 of tobacco smoke; and, from a perusal 

 of these articles, it would be difficult for 

 the novice to decide for or against the 

 method. Some obiect to it; others say 

 very little to encourage it; and, according 

 to the evidence, ninty nine out of every 

 hundred use the eating-out method. 



At the beginning of my experience I 

 used the eating-out method, and lost a 

 large percent. A friend then instructed 

 me in the use of tobacco smoke, and the 

 only ones lost since have been by the 

 eating-out plan, which was used when it 

 was impossible to be on hand at the prop- 

 er time on account of professional busi- 

 ness. 



This is how I do it: After the queen 

 arrives I at once examine the queenless 

 colony that is to receive her; destroying 

 all queen cells that are started. If a 

 queen is to be removed, it is done in the 

 morning of the day when her successor is 

 to be introduced. If nuclei are to be 

 formed, it is also done during the fore- 

 noon, and the queen in either case is to 

 be given at dusk when the bees are all 

 in. When evening approaches, if it is 

 cool I begin earlier; if warmer and the 

 bees late returning, I delaj' somewhat. 



For smoker fuel I use white cedar bark ; 

 although any kind can be used. I also 

 use as a starter, a piece of burlap, or old 

 cotton rag, impregnated with saltpeter by 

 soaking in a solution of saltpeter, and 

 drying. When nicely started, a teaspoon- 

 ful of any granulated smoking tobacco is 

 dropped in. I first give the queen a puff, 

 then puff smoke at the entrance of the 

 hive sufficient to drive the smoke to every 

 part of the hive. After one minute I raise 

 the cover carefully, following it with 

 sufficient smoke to reach every bee and 

 drive them back. Then I pry off one 

 end of the wire cloth of the shipping cage, 

 and allow the queen to run down between 

 the combs, following her with a puff of 

 smoke, drop the quilt and close up the 

 hive. 



To sum up: Never dequeen, or form 

 nuclei, in advance of receiving a queen; 

 for she may never come or may arrive 

 dead. See that snioke reaches t'very bee, 

 as well as the queen; and allow the queen 

 time to quiet down. Then she will not 

 take wing, as in case of liberation while 

 agitated. Destroy all queen cells in the 

 forenoon of the day of introduction in 

 colonies having been queenless sufficient- 

 ly long. Close the hive, after liberating 

 the queen, and do not disturb her for 

 four days. There cannot be a simpler or 

 easier method; and you may as confident- 

 ly expect to find the queen in possession 

 of the hive as you were that she was put 

 there. 



Id.\ho F.\lls, Idaho, Oct. i, 1900. 



