192 THE HIVE AND HONEY-BEE. 



on the point of a knife or pen, and by placing it on the 

 inner margin of any worker-cells, feel confident that the 

 larvae in them will be reared as queens ; and as these royal 

 cells are separate, and on the margin of the comb, they 

 can be easily and safely removed. This is another import- 

 ant advance in practical bee-culture, for which we are in- 

 debted to the sagacity of Dzierzon." Bienenzeitung^ 

 1858, p. 199. Translated by Mr, Wagner. 



If the spare queen-cells are cut out (p. 166) from Z, be- 

 fore the first queen matures, other nuclei may be formed 

 by similar processes; indeed, with movable combs, any 

 number of queens may be raised, and kept where, when 

 wanted, they can be readily secured.* 



Both the original nuclei, Zand ZZ", and those made from 

 their sealed queens, may be formed by bringing from 

 another Apiary, in a small box, the few adhering bees 

 which are wanted (p. 162) ; and as many may be returned 

 in it, to be used for a similar purpose. The expert will 

 also be able to catch up adhering bees, by slightly movingf 

 the parent-stocks (p. 161), and in various other ways, 

 which will readily suggest themselves. 



* Dzierzon estimates a fertile queen to be worth, in the swarming season, one- 

 half the price of a new swarm. 



t If the adhering bees are thus obtained, and there is not a cluster of bees on 

 the brood-comb, they may be so dissatisfied with its deserted appearance, as to re- 

 fuse to stay. If they intend to submit to this system of forced colonization, they 

 will, however much agitated at first, soon join the cluster of bees on the comb ; 

 otherwise, they will quickly abandon the hive, carrying off with them all that 

 were put in with the comb. 



While it is admitted that bees can raise a queen from any worker-egg or young 

 larva, is it certain that workers of any age are able or disposed to do it ? 



Huber speaks of two kinds of workers : " One of these is, in general, destined for 

 the elaboration of wax, and its size is considerably enlarged when full of honey ; 

 the other immediately imparts what it has collected, to its companions ; its abdomen 

 undergoes no sensible change, or it retains only the honey necessary for its own sub- 

 sistence. The particular function of the bees of this kind is to take care of the 

 young, for they are not charged with provisioning the hive. In opposition to the 

 wax-workers, we shall call them small bees, or nurses. 



"Although the external difference be inconsiderable, this is not an imaginary 



