168e the practical bee guidb. 



other cells, the young queens in those cells will be destroyed (199, 213) 



When they are ready to hatch out, the young queens, in their cells, 

 should be distributed among the nuclei (290,291), or in mating boxes, 

 or divided hives (285), or to full colonies which it is desired to requeen, 

 such colonies having- been previously rendered queenless for 

 twenty-four hours, and the cells being given in wire cell protectors 

 (Fig. looc. e). If distribution cannot be made in any of these 

 directions, and if the cells are to remain in the nursing colony 

 until the queens emerge, they may be protected in nursery cages 

 (Fig. looc. b). Ten of these cages fit into a standard frame 

 (Fig. looc. d). Their sides are protected by wire cloth, and they 

 have two holes, one to admit a queen cell and cup, the other for 

 food. Candy made as directed (300), is packed into the latter 

 hole ; a queen cell is taken from the hive, its point is dipped in 

 honey, and the cell is inserted in the nursery cage. When the 

 frame of cages is complete, it is given to the stock in the upper 

 story. The hatched queens, safe in their nurseries and with 

 food provided for them, may be utilized as required. It must, how- 

 ever, be observed that virgin queens, immediately upon emerging 

 from their cells, require a large supply of natural pollen and honey 

 to build up their constitutions, and these cannot be conveniently 

 provided in nursery cages. The need may be met by caging them 

 on combs containing pollen and honey easy of access by the 

 queens (297), These combs may be quite small, arranged in mating 

 boxes, of which a large number should be available. In all these 

 operations, bees must not be shaken from frames which have queen 

 cells, but must be brushed off, nor should the cells be inverted at 

 any time after having been sealed, for any shaking or rough usage 

 of queen cells will most probably injure the occupants. 



