158 PRODUCTION OF COMB HONEY 
to remove the tendency to sit on the part of the hen, by natural 
selection. In a state of nature only a few eggs were laid but now 
behold the two hundred-ege hen, the result of the effort of the 
breeder. 
Control of the male parentage is the only obstacle in the way 
of the bee-breeder and in spite of that he is accomplishing some- 
thing. Not long since the result of an experiment along this 
line by Professor Francis Jager and an assistant in the Univer- 
sity of Minnesota, which was apparently successful was pub- 
lished in “ Science.” The queen emerged from the cell with only 
rudimentary wings and was never able to flv, hence there could 
seem to be no mistake in this case. The bee-keeping world is 
watching with interest the progress of further experiment along 
this line in the hope that fertilization by artificial methods may 
some day be possible. 
Cutting Queen Cells to Prevent Swarming.—Perhaps the 
cutting of the queen cells was the first method devised looking 
toward swarm control. It is probably the method most com- 
monly practised. Yet it is not entirely dependable. In some 
instances if the cells are removed as soon as the larve first appear 
in them, no more will be built and there will be no swarm for that 
year. If, however, cells are once sealed and the bees have the 
swarming fever, they will build one batch after another until the 
bee-keeper will find it cheaper to let them swarm and be done 
with it, than to examine every comb and remove roval cells every 
ten days all summer. Occasionally one will be missed and then 
out comes your swarm whether or no. 
De-queening During the Honey Flow.—.\ few bee-keepers 
go through all their colonies during the honey flow when it is 
expected that eggs laid will not mature in time to be of assistance 
during the harvest and kill all-the queens. At this time queen 
cells will be built in many colonies in preparation for swarming. 
All cells will be cut out at the same time. Weak colonies or 
others not likely to swarm are passed, as are also any favorites 
