

GEORGE W. YORK, Editor. (^«« i 



39th YEAR. 



CHICAGO, ILL,, SEPTEMBER 14, 1899, 



No, 37, 



Rearing- Queens in Full Colonies— Starting- Cell- 

 Cups by Natural Methods. 



BY HENRY ALLEY'. 



FOR a g'ood many years I have had no trouble in gettinfc 

 all the cell-cups made that I needed, and in a way most 

 natural for bees to construct them. This is the way 

 I do it : 



We will suppose that there are eggs or larva; properly 

 matured, from which bees will start queen-cells. The rig-ht 

 age of eggs for this purpose is about 8+ hours, reckoning 

 from the time the eggs were deposited. Now, there is but 

 one way to compel bees to start cell-cups, and that is by 

 making them queenless. My way of preparing bees for this 

 work is this : 



I have a box, a duplicate of the regular brood-nest a 

 full colony occupies, to the bottom of which is nailed wire- 

 cloth. Over this wire, at the ends, are nailed Js-inch cleats 

 to keep the bottom of the bos above anything it is resting 

 on, so that the air can be admitted freely at all times. A 

 frame cover is made, and that also is covered witli wire- 

 cloth. AVhen ready for the bees I take the cover of the box 

 and go to any strong colony in the yard, remove the sec- 

 tions or whatever covers the frames, and place the wire 

 cover on the hive. Then the bees are smoked at the en- 

 trance to drive in as many as possible, and also cause them 

 to fill their sacs with honey. I also drum lightly on the 

 hive. Now, to put the bees in such a condition that they 

 can be brusht from the combs into a box, and not all take 

 wing, I use a small amount of tobacco-smoke. I will say 

 plainly that this boxing-up of bees as above cannot be done 

 without the use of tobacco smoke. If rotten-wood smoke is 



F 1 1 . 1 . C O M_B^ Co N T A !N I N Gr E G G- S . 



F lCr.2rC ONTAINItSC» Q.U &EN, CELLS , 



used, nearly all of the bees will take wing and be in the air 

 quickly ; but the tobacco-smoke puts them in just the right 

 condition to be handled to your liking. In fact, they can 

 be handled about as conveniently as so many beans. When 

 the queen is found, the cover is placed on the box, and the 

 bees left alone for several hours, or until they fully realize 

 their queenless condition. Then the eggs are given them 

 in this way : 



Cut from any brood-comb, containing eggs that have 

 just hatcht, a piece about 4 inches square. Cut this piece 

 in strips, running a knife thru alternate rows of cells. Cut 

 off about half the depth of the cells, and insert the fire end 

 of a common match in each alternate cell, twirling it be- 

 tween the thumb and finger, thus de.stroying the eggs. 

 Have at hand a shallow pan containing equal parts of bees- 

 was and resin made quite hot over a kerosene-stove, and 

 dip in the mixture the edge of the comb in which the eggs 

 have not been destroyctl, and quickly place it on a stick, as 

 represented in Fig. 1. The illustration shows a standard 

 frame in which are two pieces of wood having a space of 

 7,'.4 inches between the pieces. The strips should be cut TV 

 inches long-, and are kept in place by cutting notches in the 

 wood 's-inch deep, using- 4 pieces of wood to each frame, as 

 shown in the illustration. On each piece of wood a strip of 

 comb is placed. Two of the frames, containing 8 pieces, 

 are placed in a hive havings no bottom or top. The hive 

 is then filled with combs containing honey and pollen, 

 hilt not a particle of unsealed brood; in fact, no brood at 

 all should be used. Now jar the bees down to the bot- 

 tom of the box by a sudden strike on the floor, and 

 quickly place the one containing the combs over it and 

 put on the cover. Th.e bees will at once run up and take 

 possession of the combs. If this is done in the morning 

 the bees can be placed at night on the stand they pre- 

 viously occupied, and at once be releast. I first place a 

 bottom-board on the stand, and then raise tlie hive and 

 place it thereon. By being- careful, no bees are crusht. 

 Many bees rush out and will take wing, but no harm 

 will be done, as they soon return and enter the hive. 



While the bees are confined after being given the 

 eggs they must be supplied with water, and kept in a 

 cool place, and in the course of 24 hours a cell-cup will 



