QUEEN-REARING IN ENGLAND. 15 



also because it may dry up the jelly. But I ha\e found 

 that on a still day with a temperature of only 65 degrees no 

 harm was done to larvse that had been exposed for half an 

 hour. Care should be taken not to handle the cups near 

 their mouths with perspiring fingers, nor to puff smoke over 

 them, for the bees are likely to reject them if they detect 

 strange scents in them. It is a good plan to give two 

 carriers carrying altogether 24 to 30 cups to the queen-rear- 

 ing colony, so as to make allowance for any larvae that may 

 be destroyed. 



Fig. 14. 

 A good batch ot sealed queen-cells. 



Next morning the cups are examined, and should any be 

 found in which the larvae have not been bountifully sup- 

 plied with jelly they are removed, for larvse that have been 

 starved at the start will develop into undersized and inferior 

 queens. 



Athough a colony covering eight combs is able to provide 

 as many as two dozen larvae with sufficient food during the 

 first 24 hours it cannot supply enough food to more than 



