BIG BATCHES OF NATURAL CELLS 



59 



Fig. 24. Frame for holding comb horizontally above brood-nest for 

 getting queen-cells by the Case method. 



around it, to hold the heat of the cluster. By using an empty 

 comb-honey super above the cluster, there is room enough for the 

 prepared comb and also for plenty of cloth to make all snug and 

 warm. 



Strong colonies only should be used for this, as for any 

 other method of queen rearing. If all conditions are favorable, 

 the beekeeper will secure a maximum number of cells. From 

 seventy-five to one hundred fine cells are not unusual. By 

 killing the old queens a day or two before the ripe cells are given 

 it is possible to requeen a whole apiary by this method with a 

 minimum of labor. According to Miss Emma Wilson, it is 

 possible to get very good results by this method, without mutilat- 

 ing the comb, although it is probable that a smaller number of 

 queen cells will be secured. By laying the comb on its side 

 as practiced in this connection, the cells can be removed with a 

 very slight effort and with a minimum of danger. 



