82 PRACTICAL QUEEN REARING 



but a very short time. The two little combs are soon filled 

 with eggs and with no more room to lay, the queen may lead a 

 small swarm, and thus desert the hive. 



Another plan of stocking these hives is to shake a lot of 

 bees from several hives into a box with wirecloth top and bottom 

 similar to the Alley swarm box, and keep them confined for 

 several hours. It is desirable that these bees be brought from 

 a distance, if possible. When ready to stock the mating hives, 

 wet the bees enough to prevent flying readily and dip them out 

 with a tin dipper, turning a sufficient quantity into each com- 

 partment. A supply of virgin queens is ready at hand, and as 

 each compartment is filled, a virgin is dropped into a dish of 

 honey and then into the compartment with the bees. The 

 entrance is opened at night to prevent the loss of bees before 

 the excitement subsides. This is the plan practiced at the 

 Root yards. 



