THE DOOLITTLE METHOD 



125 



queen rearing since Doolittle hit on the plan of making artificial 

 cell cups. His plan as first used was to take a small stick with 

 round end about the size of the bottom of the cell and after dip- 

 ping it in water dip it in melted wax. Several times it was thus 

 dipped, each time not quite so deep as the time before, thus leav- 

 ing the base much thicker. When it was of the required thick- 

 ness it was removed and others made in similar manner. These 

 were fastened in frames which would fit into the hive in place 



Fig. 58. — Queen cells by the Alley plan. 



of a regular brood frame. A newly hatched worker larva, 

 together with a small amount of royal jelly, was placed in each 

 cell, with the result that very good queens were reared. 



Wood cell cups and artificial wax cells are now offered for 

 sale by dealers at prices that will no longer justify the bee- 

 keeper to make his own cells. The cell cups are listed in 

 dealers' catalogues at about $2.00 per 1000, which is cheaper 

 than the average person can make them at home. The cups are 

 pressed into the wood cell holders by means of a wood plunger 

 and are ready for grafting, as the placing of the larvae is called. 



