CHAPTER X 



BREEDING BETTER BEES 



Good stock is as important to the beekeeper 

 as to the stockman. It is, however, a much 

 simpler matter to improve the strain of bees in 

 an apiary than to make a similar change in a 

 herd of cattle or even a flock of chickens. The 

 life of the honeybee is short and the placing of 

 a pure queen at the head of the colony will have 

 the effect of replacing the whole working force 

 of a hive with pure stock within a few weeks, 

 or months, at most. If the colony is requeened 

 in spring or summer the former stock will be 

 replaced in a very short time. If the change is 

 made in late autumn many of the late maturing 

 bees from the former queen will remain in the 

 hive until the following spring. During the 

 honey flow the bees work at a furious pace and 

 the whole colony is in a fever of excitement. As 



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