and tts Economic Management. 345 
time and by two of my own methods to any colony, at 
any time of the year, whatever be the condition of the 
hive, whether it contains queen cells up to the point of 
hatching, brood in every stage of development, fertile 
workers, or no brood at all. 
Simmins’ “ Comb Method,” 
first brought to public notice by my pamphlet in 1881, 
consists in taking a queen from a nucleus, or otherwise, 
upon the comb she is parading among her own bees, and 
then inserting the whole into the desired hive, using a 
little smoke as in ordinary manipulation. Be careful to 
carry the comb in an uncovered box from nucleus to full 
colony, and before inserting the same, part the combs of 
the hive to give plenty of room and admit light. (See also 
“ Uniting.”) 
Simmins’ “ Fasting Method.” 
The three things of importance to be observed (after 
removing the old queen at mid-day, if one) are as follows: 
—(1) Keep the queen quite alone in a temperate place free 
from strong odours for not less than 30 minutes ; (2) she is 
to be without food meanwhile; (3) and to be allowed to 
run down from the top of the frames at dusk. There is no 
objection to the cheap “ safety” match boxes so commonly 
in use, but my own practice is to carry the queens in small 
tubular cages made of fine perforated zinc or tin, one end 
permanently closed, while the other end is pressed into a 
piece of foundation after the queen is in. When ready, 
remove the foundation and let her run into the hive; 
otherwise stop the end with a thin leaf. Caution :—make 
no examination after inserting the queen, by either of the 
two foregoing plans, until 48 hours have expired. 
The above meets all requirements, whether the colony 
has been long, or only a short time queenless; if it has 
