in nuclei because I can then watch them and 

 know tiiat they are raised from tlie egsc. In 

 this way I do not have any nine-day queens, 

 but wliere they are raised in full colonies the 

 Ijees are liable "to start queens from larva that 

 is three or four and even five days old. Such 

 queens are worthless. I am positive of tlais, 

 for I have tried them to my satisfaction. 



I raise my queens by taking a card or two of 

 hatching brood and young bees from a hive 

 that can spare them (no eggs or larva), put 

 them in an empty hive and leave them 

 twenty-four or thirty-six hours, then I take a 

 strip of comb with eggs from breeding hive, 

 cut say one inch wide and three or four long, 

 and fit it in one of the brood combs already 

 in the nucleus hive, leaving an inch space un- 

 der the eggs for the cells to hang in them after 

 the bees have formed or started queen cells, 

 which will be in twenty-four or forty-eight 

 hours. I add to them a card of larva, as they 

 use larva for feeding queen larva (or making 

 royal .jelly as it is called). In from eight to ten 

 days the cells will be capped, and in twelve to 

 filteen days they can be cut out and inserted 

 in any hive desired, or put in the hatching 

 box if you have no use for them for a day or 

 two. 



This is one way to raise queens, and I like 

 it as well, as any, as it is very simple and 

 easy, and I am sure not to have any nine- 

 day Queens. Tiiere are many other ways 

 that 1 niiglit mention but t'or'tlie want ot 

 time. Now, in conclusion, let nie repeat, 

 Breed only from your best queens. 

 Bristol, Vt. A. E. Manum. 



Comb Foundation in Surplus Boxes. 



KEAD BEFORE THE N. E. CONYENTIOX. 



Mr. President and Oentlemen:— My 

 prolonj^ed stay in Michigan will prevent 

 my presence at the Convention, I regret my 

 absence, as there will be questions pre- 

 sented of vital importance to the industry. — 

 I'romineut among them will be tiie subject 

 of Artificial Comb Foundations. 



1 have had no reason to chaii.ge my views 

 as expressed before tlie National Associa- 

 tion in October, but the importance of one 

 feature of tlie subject, only alluded to there, 

 basso grown in my mind, as to warrant 

 bringing it before "tlie Convention, viz: — 

 The use of comb foundations in surplus 

 boxes. The importance of tlie subject 

 extends beyond the present self-interest of 

 any new business to the broad field of a 

 rapidly-growing national industry. That 

 tlie subject may be discussed in all its rela- 

 tions to tiie future of couib honey, before 

 its use shall become general, seems to me of 

 great importance; for in such discussion, 

 considerations may be presented that will 

 prevent a hasty verdict, to be regreted in 

 the future, and suggestions offered tliatmay 

 cliange tlie views of those who bold such 

 relations to tlie business, through the press, 

 as to affect greatly for good, or otherwise, 

 depending on the views they advocate. 



1 concede there may be a little present 

 jirofit by the use of foundation in surplus 

 l)0xes, but regard it as trifling, com])ared to 

 the damage it may work in the future 

 market of comb honey ; but even now, 

 there are honest experimenters, who ques- 

 tion any profit in such use of it. Wliile I 

 consider the utility of the invention, as 



regards its use in the breeding apartment a 

 problem already solved, I cannot but be 

 solicitous of the effect in the future, if its 

 present use is urged by all, without other 

 than present considerations. 



Our products must come in direct compe- 

 tition with other saccharine food, which 

 now have a well-established place in. 

 domestic economy and trade. To supplant 

 these in any measure, we must have an 

 argument. 



We are certain of the one, of its beauty 

 and delicious taste; and if to this we can 

 add tiiat of vit'Tity, I see no reason why we 

 cannot take the 'field. 



There are, at present, few articles of food, 

 of this class, to which the stigma of adul- 

 teration is not fixed. Prominent among 

 them are the syrups, sugar-house, silver 

 and golden drips, "etc., which now are so 

 much used on the table, and with wliich 

 our extracted honey must come into most 

 direct competition. 



These syrups, at one time, brought a high 

 price; but of late liave been so cheapened 

 by adulteration that they are considered by 

 many, even dangerous, owing to the pres- 

 ence of sulphuric acid remaining in the glu- 

 cose, with which they are adulterated.— 

 Glucose being the product of corn-starcli, 

 treated with sulphuric acid. 



Such experiments as those made at the 

 Michigan Convention, will educate the 

 people to tlie.se tacts. 



Extracted honey, from its nature, will be 

 liable to such adulteration; and we already 

 see the effect on the market, by this cry 

 thus early raised against it. Therefore, I 

 know of no duty so great, especially to 

 those who undertake to direct the interests 

 of the industry, as that of guarding our 

 products from stigma. 



One great problem of the future will be 

 the protection of extracted Jioney from 

 adulteration; and for this, the united action 

 and wisdom of honey-producers will be 

 required. For it certainly will be '* doc- 

 tored," to a great extent, unless some steps 

 are taken to prevent it; for it certainly 

 opens as fruitful a field for profit in its 

 adulteration as do the syrups. And would 

 it not be well to take some initiative steps 

 soon, to " nip it in the bud," as it were, 

 before it gets of large proportions. All will 

 concede that virtue is the art of protection, 

 and so I make the burden of this paper 

 such action in regard to comb lioney, that 

 we shall not put in the hands of our oppo- 

 nents a weapon, in the future to be used 

 against us; and to this point I bring the 

 subject of this communication. 



Let any bee-kee])er of experience, con- 

 template for a moment" the ])urity or com- 

 mercial beeswax, or, what is more to the 

 point, a quantity of refuse comb, before it 

 is adulterated. Containing, in addition to 

 other impurities, dead bees, in various 

 stages of putrilication; with moth worms, 

 all sizes, dead and aiive, together with their 

 excrement,— and tiiis to he cooked together 

 in a kettle of water, until the savory extract 

 has thoroughly flavored the beautiful yel- 

 low wax, destined to become a delicious 

 morsel, and component part of comb honey. 

 And, in case your own stomach is not 



