158 PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY 



to remove the tendency to sit on the part of the hen, by natural 

 selection. In a state of nature only a few eggs were laid but now 

 behold the two hundred-egg hen, the result of the effort of the 

 breeder. 



Control of the male parentage is the only obstacle in the way 

 of the bee-breeder and in spite of that he is accomplishing some- 

 thing. Not long since the result of an experiment along this 

 line by Professor Francis Jager and an assistant in the Univer- 

 sity of Minnesota, which was apparently successful was pub- 

 lished in " Science." The queen emerged from the cell with only 

 rudimentary wings and was never able to fly, hence there could 

 seem to be no mistake in this case. The bee-keeping world is 

 watching with interest the progress of further experiment along 

 this line in the hope that fertilization by artificial methods may 

 some day be possible. 



Cutting Queen Cells to Prevent Swarming. — Perhaps the 

 cutting of the queen cells was the first method devised looking 

 toward swarm control. It is probably the method most com- 

 monly practised. Yet it is not entirely dependable. In some 

 instances if the cells are removed as soon as the larva? first appear 

 in them, no more will be built and there will be no swarm for that 

 year. If, however, cells are once sealed and the bees have the 

 swarming fever, they will build one batch after another until the 

 bee-keeper will find it cheaper to let them swarm and be done 

 with it, than to examine every comb and remove royal cells every 

 ten days all summer. Occasionally one will be missed and then 

 out comes your swarm whether or no. 



De-queening During the Honey Flow. — A few bee-keepers 

 go through all their colonies during the honey flow when it is 

 expected that eggs laid will not mature in time to be of assistance 

 during the harvest and kill all the queens. At this time queen 

 cells will be built in many colonies in preparation for swarming. 

 All cells will be cut out at the same time. Weak colonies or 

 others not likely to swarm are passed, as are also any favorites 



