THE AMERICAN APICULTURIST. 



67 



drone cells. I have tested the matter 

 time and time again of giving a colony 

 comb in which not even a single drone 

 cell could be found. Drones, tiowever, 

 would be reared, and I have found 

 thein many times in sections filled with 

 drone comb, wnen there was a large 

 quantity of empty worker cells in 

 brood chamber. 



4-. I do not think it advisable to at- 

 tempt to prevent absolutely the rear- 

 ing of drones at any time. My plan is 

 to allow each colony a chance to rear 

 a few, and I find by so doing the desire 

 to rear a large number is greatly sup- 

 pressed ; a few drone cells seems to 

 satisfy the bees, while complete ab- 

 sence of them seems to cause a deter- 

 mination on their part to rear a big lot 

 anyhow. 



ANSWERS TO K. D. AVERY. 



1. Purchase queens in May or June 

 and introduce them at once. 



Unless intending to rear queens for 

 sale, my advice would be to buy dollar 

 queens from some reliable breeder. 

 95 per cent will be found purely mated 

 and the balance can easily be replaced, 

 when it is found by their worker prog- 

 eny, that they are hybrids. 



2. I don't "think Cariiiolans possess 

 any advantages over Italians. The 

 drawback is that they are excessively 

 inclined to swarm, and as yet it has 

 been found impossible to prevent it. 

 The great point claimed for them is 

 tiieir amiability, but pure Italians will 

 be found amiable enough for most bee- 

 keepers, and those who are terribly 

 afraid of being stung should not keep 

 bees, or else should wear a complete 

 coat of mail. 



ANSWERS BY L. C. ROOT. 



1. I would leave them undisturbed 

 until the weather was warm enough 

 for them to fly. They will then re- 

 move the mould. 



2. If I removed the lower part of 

 the combs I would fill the place of that 

 taken with other worker comb, even if 

 to do so I had to reduce the number of 

 combs and supply frames of founda- 

 tion later. 



3. Nearly, if not quite so. If a few 

 drone cells are constructed the drones 

 may be destroyed before they hatch. 



I have had experience in preventing 

 drones from hatching in all hives, ex- 

 cept such as were selected for the pur- 

 pose. One will succeed if thorough in 

 the work. 



4. I think it is always desirable to 

 have an abundance of choice drones in 

 every apiary during the season when 

 any queen may fly to meet them. 



i am not certain that drones in ev- 

 ery stock are beneficial. 



if I were, I should supply them by 

 taking brood from superior stocks se- 

 lected for the purpose. 



If we are to improve our bees care 

 must be taken in selecting stock for- 

 the drones as well as on the side of the 

 motlier. 



We must avoid in-breeding. 



ANSWERS TO R. 



AVERY. 



1. If you have not liad experience, 

 order queens from some reliable 

 breeder. See Alley's Handy Book for 

 methods of rearing queens and Italian- 

 izing. 



2. I do not know. 



ANSWERS BY IRA BARBER. 



1. If a colony comes out of winter 

 quarters strong with bees and combs 

 mouldy, I should let the bees clean 

 them up themselves, when there was 

 nothing else for them to do. 



2. If corners of combs are cut out 

 for any cause and not replaced with 

 worker comb, they are quite certain 

 to fill in with drone comb, 



3. I do not think any man can pre- 

 vent bees from rearing drones with 

 foundation, for they will have some if 

 they have to lengthen out worker cell, 

 to get them. This is my experiences. 



4. I think not. 



ANSWERS TO R. D. AVERY. 



1. Purchase queens of some reliable 

 queen rearer and introduce when time 

 and condition of bees are most favor- 

 able. 



2. Have had no experience with Car- 

 niolans and cannotspeak for or against 

 them. 



ANSWERS BY G. I.. TINKER. 



1. To remedy the difficulty here 

 named I would do two things before I 

 ever come to the matter of mouldy 

 cond)S. "Whether wintering out or in 

 doors I would give the colonies large 

 lower ventilation and in early winter 

 at least, or until about February 15, 

 shut ofl' every parti,cle of top ventila- 

 tion except what might be secured 

 through the pores of the wood, and 

 thereby prevent the cause of mouldy 

 combs. If I wintered in the cellar I 

 would keep the temperature under full 



