no AUSTRALASIAN BEE MANUAL 



In due course we obtained sixty good cells in our first 

 experiment, and over eighty as shown in Fig. 66 in our 



Fig. 66. COMB OF 80 GOOD CELLS. 



second trial. The above illustrations were made from 

 photos taken by myself, the cells being fore-shortened 

 in the view, look smaller than they really were. As soon 

 as the cells are well started a queen excluder mav be put 

 on and the queen returned in the manner previously 

 described. 



CAUTION. 



The comb lying flat over the brood chamber is sub- 

 ject to considerable heat, and we found in one case part 

 of the comb had sagged down owning to the softening 

 of the comb, and weight of the bees. We then w-ound 

 wire around the frames between the standing rows of 

 cells, which checked the sagging. Either wire or thin 

 splints of wood will do. We obtained some verv fine 

 queens by this method, and as a wholesale w^ay of 

 raising cells, I consider it immensely superior to raising 

 them on the swarm box plan with a small force of bees 

 from artificial cell cups and transferred larvae. Plenty 

 of ventilation should be provided w^hen raising queen 

 cells in this manner. 



