FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 167 



VARYING DOOLITTLe's PLAN. 



The next season I varied the plan. Instead of leav- 

 ing the queen with the colony to remain idle for ten days, 

 I took her away and gave her to a nucleus, a new colony, 

 or wherever a queen was needed. At the end of the ten 

 days I returned her to the colony, placing her directly 

 upon a comb taken from the middle of the brood-nest. 

 Often, however, I gave them a different queen, for after 

 an absence of ten days. I doubt if they could tell their own 

 queen from any other. Besides, they were in a condition 

 to take any queen without grumbling. 



After the first year, however, I had some colonies 

 swarm again after the queen was given them. Whether 

 it was the season, the change in the plan, or some other 

 cause. I am unable to say. 



PUT-UP PLAN. 



I then adopted a plan which relieved me of the neces- 

 sity of hunting for and cutting out queen-cells. No mat- 

 ter how careful I might be, there was always a possibility 

 that I might overlook a queen-cell, although this very 

 rarely happened, if ever. But it took a good deal of valu- 

 able time. I give herewith the plan, which I think an 

 improvement : 



When a swarm issues and returns, it is ready for 

 treatment immediately ; although usually it is put down 

 in my memorandum of work to be done, and the time set 

 for it may be the next day or any time within five days, 

 just as suits my convenience. The queen is caged at the 

 time of swarming, and left in the care of the bees, as al- 

 ready mentioned. 



W^ithin the five days, I take off the super, and put 

 most of the brood-combs into an empty hive. Indeed, I 

 may take all the brood-combs, for I want in this hive all 

 the combs the colony should have. In the hive left on the 

 stand. I leave or put from one to three frames, generally 

 two. These combs must be sure to have no queen-cells. 



