134 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



August 



where I can use the best of the old 

 queens to advantage, they are killed, as 

 are also the inferior queens, both old 

 and young, and stock substituted from 

 my best sti-ains. At this time a queen 

 will, as a rule, be readily accepted by 

 the bees if simply run in at the en- 

 trance; which is the plan I employ in 

 introducing under such conditions. 



This method of preventing increase, 

 not only gives a strong force of work- 

 ers for the harvest, but introduces 

 young, vigorous queens each season. 



Theilmanton, Minn. 



The Queen and Her Mating. 



An interesting feature of the Ameri- 

 can Bee Journal is its "question box" 

 department, through which replies by 

 a score of prominent bee-keepers are 

 given to one or more questions pro- 

 pounded by its readers; the query and 

 answers thereto appearing at the same 

 time; an example of which, from its is- 

 sue of July 7, we give entire. 



Some of our readers have kindly 

 written us regarding bee-keeping mat- 

 ters, and at the same time expressed a 

 disinclination to write anything for 

 publication, through fear of criticism 

 by the wiser ones. To such, in par- 

 ticular, we invite a careful perusal, and 

 general comparison of the replies of a 

 quarter of a hundred American author- 

 ities, to a simple, every-day problem in 

 practical bee-keeping. And in the fu- 

 ture we hope no one will hesitate upon 

 this ground to freely express his opin- 

 ion. We have all much to learn, and 

 may do it in no other way so well as 

 by a free and fearless expression of our 

 personal ideas: 



Query 75.— Under favorable conditions : 



1. How many days will elapse after the qneen 

 hatches from the cell before she takes her flight? 



2. How many days after hatching before she 

 commences laying? 



3. Is it true that the mating of the queen and 

 drone always causes the death of the latter?— 

 Utah. 



Emerson T. Abbott — I do not know. 



J. A. Stone— 1. From 1 to 5. 2. From 



8 to 15. 3. Yes. 



J. A. Green— 1. 6 or 7 days. 2. 10 

 days. 3. I do not know. 

 Dr. C. C. Miller — 1. 5 days or more. 



2. Something like 10. 3. Probably. 

 Chas Dadant & Son— 1. About 6 



days, never short of 5 days. 2. 2 to 4. 



3. Yes. 



Mrs. J. M. Null— 1. 5 to 11 days. 2. 

 10 to 16 days. 3. Death is a physical 

 necessity. 



R. L. Taylor— 1. From 4 to 8 days. 2. 

 From 6 to 15. 3. I think so, of neces- 

 sity. 



Dr. J. P. H. Brown— 1. Usually in 4 

 or 5 days. 2. On an average, in 10 

 days. 3. 'Tis true, I believe. 



Prof. A. J. Cook— 1. 3 to 6— usually 5, 

 with suitable weather. 2. 3; occasion- 

 ally 2. 3. Yes. 



J. M. Hambaugh— 1. From 3 to 7 

 days. 2. 6 to 10.' 3 Yes, according to 

 our best authority. 



E. France — 1. I don't know. 2. A 

 week to 10 days. 3. I don't know, and 

 don't think anyone knows. 



O. O. Poppleton— 1. From 6 to 9 

 days, usually; but there are many ex- 

 ceptions. 2. Add a couple of day to 

 above figures. 3. I don't know, but 

 think yes. 



D. W. Heise— 1 and 2. That will vary 

 greatly, depending much upon the 

 weather, and other conditions. 3. I 

 give it up; ask them that know. 



W. G. Larrabee — 1 and 2. I never saw 

 a queen take her flight, but she will 

 commence laying from 3 days to a 

 week after hatching. 3. I don't know. 



J. E. Pond— 1. Usually 2 or 3 days. 2. 

 5 or 6 days. 3. Yes, the drone loses 

 the male organ at the time of mating, 

 and death, as a rule, immediately re- 

 sults. 



Mrs. L. Harrison — 1 and 2. It will 

 depend upon the weather as to the time 

 of flights and the laying of the queen. 

 3. I don't know. What is the differ- 

 ence, anyhow, whether he lives or dies? 



C. H. Dibbern— 1. From 12 to 16 

 days. 2. I am not sure about this, but 

 I think the time varies somewhat. 3. 



