216 DR. miller's 



Shipping Bees. — Q, \\"in shipping bees cause i|vuciis l'> DC 

 drone-layers ? 



A. When queens are shipped by mail in cages, it is not a very 

 uiKomnion thing that tlu>- are soniew liat affected as to their 

 laying, but I don't remember that I e\cr heard of a iiucen being 

 made a drone-layer by it. and I don't think I ever heard of a 

 queen being seriously affected when shipped in a full colony. 



O. Do I have to have iny bees inspected before I can ship 

 them? They are free from foulbrood. 



A. It depends upon the laws of the state into which you ship. 

 Some states require inspection, and others do not. Whether they 

 have foulbrood or not has nothing to do with the case; if the law 

 requires inspection, all bees shipped into the state must be in- 

 spected. Better have them inspected as a safeguard. 



Q. When is the best time to ship bees in the spring? 



;\. In freezing weather the combs are somewhat brittle, and 

 likely to break easily, and the bees do not stand a journey as well 

 as when more active. When combs are filled with honey they are 

 likely to break in transit, and if too warm there is more danger 

 that the bees ma\' suffocate. So the best time in spring is while 

 the combs are mostly empty, any time after it is warm enough 

 for the bees to Hy nearly all day. 



(J I am considering shipping bees in the fall, say 100 miles or 

 more, and then giving them a good flight liefore putting thein in 

 the cellar. Do you think it injurious to their wintering well to 

 ship them in the fall? 



A. If they have a good flight before being taken in the cellar, 

 I should not expect any harm from the journey. The excitement 

 of the journey, however, would make them eat a little more, so 

 yau would have to be a little more careful to see that they had 

 stores enough. 



y. How would \'ou advise packing a colony of liees which is 

 to be shipped by freight to New York from Texas in e.irly spring? 



A. There must be kolmI ventilation, and exerything as Arm as 

 possible. Vou can make sure of the first by liaving a cover en- 

 tirely of wire-cloth. Under this it ma\' be well to ha\e a sponge 

 lilled with water, if the frames are loose-hanging they must be 

 made secure, either \i\ nails dri\cii down through the ends of the 

 top-bars or by spacing with sticks. Put on written instructions 

 for the hive to ride so the frames shall be p.ir.iUcI with tlie rails, 

 a hand or an arrow to point toward the engine. 



