THOUSAND ANSWERS 187 



would not hold a very strong colony, and a queen reared in it 

 would not be so good as one reared in a strong colony, at least 

 up to the time of sealing the cell. After the queen-cell is sealed 

 it is not so important that the cell be in a strong colony and in 

 hot weather it will do very well to be in a nucleus. 



Q. Do you consider forced queen-rearing (as used by those 

 who transfer the larvae) as good as natural methods given by you 

 in your book? Are the queens as long-lived and as prolific? 



A. In the hands of skillful men I don't see why just as good 

 queens cannot be reared by the methods in vogue among queen- 

 breeders but I don't see how they can be any better. But I would 

 lay stress upon having cells started under favorable circum- 

 stances, with a good yield of honey, and in a colony in the humor 

 for starting cells. No colony is too strong or too good to rear 

 queen-cells. 



Q. Are not queens reared from the egg better than those 

 reared from the grub? 



A. I don't believe they are if the grub be young enough. 

 Scientists tell us that during the first three days the food to the 

 queen larva is the same as the worker larva, only in larger 

 quantity. But it is likely the worker gets all it can eat; so theo- 

 retically a queen reared from a worker larva three days old should 

 be as good as one reared from the egg. I think, however, that a 

 larva of less age is better, because when bees have their choice 

 they select one younger; I think not more than perhaps a day and 

 a half old. Such a queen is probably as good as one reared from 

 the egg. 



Q. I wish to rear queens as soon as practicable in the spring. 

 How can I tell when the proper time comes? 



A. Not until about the time the most advanced colonies begin 

 to start cells of their own accord. Or, to take it on another basis, 

 not until bees are gathering enough so as to begin building comb. 

 You can begin a good deal sooner than either of those times, but 

 your queens will not be worth rearing, and they may have trouble 

 in becoming mated. 



Q. Which is the simplest way, rear queens in nuclei, or re- 

 queen the selected colony by inserting a frame with queen-cells? 



A. It is much simpler to hang in the hive a frame with a 

 queen-cell, or to put in a queen-cell without the frame. Only in 

 that case you will have to wait ten days to two weeks before the 

 young queen begins to lay. You also run some risk that the 

 young queen may fail. 



