96 SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 



keeping her in the hive laying, and keeping up the colony. If it is desired to 

 keep the bees in the prepared top stories building queen-cells, keep them 

 brooded and supplied with started cells, and feed slowly if there is no honey 

 coming in. 



In commercial queen-rearing, queen-breeders usually use cell-cups, and 

 not have the bees to build the cells around over the comb. This is more 

 convenient, and does away with the cutting of holes through our nice 

 combs to remove the cells. Of course, the same results will be obtained 

 by having the bees to build the cells over the cell-cups in top stories 

 debarred from queens, and full of young bees and brood. 



Where bees are allowed to build queen-cells over the comb, some 

 precautions must be observed or the bees may build cells over undesirable 

 larvae. To avoid this, when a batch of cells are grafted insert a small nail 

 in the comb above each one ; then if it is desired to graft another batch three 

 days later in' the same top story, insert the nails in the comb to the right 

 of the grafted cells; then if it is desired to graft another batch of cells 

 three days later, insert the nails in the comb to the left of the cells. In 

 this way you know the contents of the cells, and when each batch shoufd 

 be removed. In nine days, and not later than ten from the time the cells 

 are grafted, they should be removed and placed in cell-protectors and dis- 

 tributed around in nuclei or wherever they are to be placed, to emerge 

 from the cells and be mated. 



.Many of the queen-cells built around on combs can be removed without 

 cutting through the segment of the comb by using the small blade of a 

 knife, cracked near the point ; and if a cell should be slightly punctured 

 where it was connected with the segment of the comb it should be im- 

 mediately squeezed together; and when inserted in the cell-protector the 

 cover should be placed down on it. 



If holes are made through the comb to remove cells, sooner or later the 

 bees will, fill them up and the comb will not be damaged much. 



Queens should not be allowed to emerge from their cells in the cell- 

 building colonies, for they will destroy the other cells. During heavy honey- 

 flows as much as two empty combs should be kept in the cell-building supers 

 or top stories to keep the colonies from swarming, or a super of shallow 

 frames can be inserted between the two stories. 



HALL'S METHOD OF QUEEN-REARING. 



THE HIVE FOR CEU.-BUILDING. 



Make the hive wide enough to hold fifteen or twenty full-depth brood- 

 frames, and make the entrance at the side of the hive instead of the end, 

 with a wide alighting-board; then make a close-fitting division-board of 

 queen-excluding zinc, so that, when the cover is on the hive, there is no 

 chance for the queen to pass from one apartment to the other. Place the 



