78 DR. miller's 



lay so many as six in a cell. If she keeps supplied with eggs, all 

 the cells that the bees cover, you needn't worry about her throw- 

 ing in a few for good measure. If, however, she lays duplicates m 

 a few of the cells and leaves other available cells empty, there is 

 something wrong, and if she persists in that line of conduct she 

 should lose her head. But it happens sometimes that a queen 

 will lay in an abnormal manner for a week or so, and then 

 straighten up and lay as good queens should. 

 The likelihood is that your queen is extra good. 



Q. Why do queenless colonies eat or destroy eggs given them 

 to rear a queen? One of my colonies destroyed a cell I gave it, 

 and is queenless yet. 



A. Bees frequently eat or destroy eggs given them or left 

 with them when queenless. I don't know why. They will also de- 

 stroy queen-cells sometimes for no apparent reason. 



Q. How long can combs of eggs and unsealed brood remain 

 ofif a hive without being damaged? 



A. I don't know. That's a good subject for you to experi- 

 ment on. I know that brood nearly ready to seal will begin to 

 crawl out of the cell within a few hours — perhaps two or three — 

 after being taken from the hive. In Switzerland they make a 

 practice of sending eggs by mail, so it is likely eggs will keep at 

 least a day or more. A fresh-laid egg would perhaps keep better 

 than one three days old. 



Entrance-Blocks. — Q. Are entrance-blocks used on the hive 

 all year around? Or when would you advise me to put them on, 

 and what opening? 



A. The entrance-blocks should be taken away entirely during 

 hot weather, or while in the cellar. For outdoor wintering they 

 should be used to make a small entrance. Then in spring enlarge 

 them only as the entrance becomes crowded. 



Entrance-Guards. — Q. Is it dangerous to put entrance-guards 

 at the entrance with ventilation at the top for preventing 

 swarms ? 



A. If the opening for ventilation is large enough for bees to 

 pass through, entrance-guards will have no effect whatever. 

 Neither will entrance-guards have any effect in preventing 

 swarming; all they do is to catch the queen when the bees swarm. 

 Of course, when the queen is caught in the guard the swarm will 

 return; but there will be trouble later. 



Q. Can a queen pass through an entrance-guard? 



