114 



INCREASE 



frame. This plan will not work well with Italians, for unless 

 greatly disturbed they do not run about much, but simply dive 

 into the cells and begin to take up a load of honey. 



The Cage Method. — By far the most common method of in- 

 troduction is the cage method, and it is generally regarded as the 



Fig. 56. Miller Queen Cage. 



safest method as well. By this method the queen is confined in 

 a cage (Figs. 56 and 57) which may be placed between the 

 combs in the hive for two or three days before she is released. 

 If she comes by mail in the ordinary mailing cage there will be 

 a quantity of candy between the queen and the opening which is 

 closed by a cork. If the colony has not been queenless the cork 



Fig. 57. — Benton queen cage. This is the cage usually used for sending queens by mail 



may be removed at once unless the candy is nearly eaten through, 

 in which ease the cork had best be left in for a day or two. 

 Usually it will require two or three days for the bees to eat away 

 the candy and to release her. In the meantime she will have 

 acqiiired the common hive odor and the bees will have become 

 familiar with her, so that there is little danger but that she will 

 be accepted. 



