142 



PLEASUBAELE BEE-KEEPING. 



lowering of the temperature, which would impair, if 

 not destroy, the value of the queen. To liberate the 

 queen take the cage into a room and remove the lid. 

 The bees will at once commence a general buzz and 

 creep over the sides of the cage. The queen must 

 be looked for and allowed to run into a small match- 

 box. This receptacle is suggested because it is always 

 at hand, and in it the queen may remain for a few 



minutes without harm. The box may 



then be put into the trousers or waist- 

 coat pocket for warmth until introduction 

 takes place. Other cages to let down 

 between the combs are also used. The 

 queen is put into this — the Eaynor pattern 

 cage (Fig. 52) — at the top, and when 

 liberated, by pressing a wire which opens 

 the lower part of the cage, it is without 

 disturbing the colony. The Abbott cage 

 is very similar, but the queen is liberated 

 by withdrawing a wire from the side of 

 Vuiiilii^ the cage. 

 Fig. 52. Mr. Howard, in using a cage of this 

 pattern, recommends discarding wires and 

 spring doors. The lower end of the cage is open, and 

 closed after introducing the queen by filling the lower 

 part with Good's candy. The queen would then be 

 liberated as soon as the candy had been consumed 

 between the bees and the queen. This method is 

 said to be uniformly successful. 



DiBBCT Inteoduction. 

 Several years ago Mr. S. Simmins promulgated a 



