MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 169 



Many of our best apiarists have practiced this clipping of 

 the queen's wings for years. Yet, these queens show no dimi- 

 nution of vigor ; we should suppose they would be even more 

 vigorous, as useless organs are always nourished at the expense 

 of the organism, and if entirely useless, are seldom long con- 

 tinued by nature. The ants set us an example in this matter, 

 as they bite the wings off their queens, after mating has trans- 

 pired. They mean that the queen ant shall remain at home 

 nolens volens, and why shall not we require the same of the 

 queen bee ? Were it not for the necessity of swarming in na- 

 ture, we should doubtless have been anticipated in this matter 

 by nature herself. Still, if the queen essays to go with a swarm, 

 and if the apiarist is not at hand, she will yery likely be lost, 

 never regaining the hive ; but in this case the bees will be 

 saved, as they will return without fail. I always mean to be 

 so watchful, keeping my hives shaded, giving ample room, 

 and dividing or increasing, as to prevent natural swarming. 

 But in lieu of such caution I see no objection to clipping the 

 queen's wing, and would advise it. 



Some apiarists clip one primary wing the first year, 

 the secondary the second year, the other primary the 

 the third, and if age of the queen permits, the remaining 

 wing the fourth year. Yet, such data, with other matters of 

 interest and importance, better be kept on a slate or card, and 

 firmly attached to the hive, or else kept in a record, opposite 

 the number of the hive. The time required to find the queen 

 is sufficient argument against the " queen-wing record." It is 

 not an argument against the once clipping of the queen's wings, 

 for, in the nucleus hives, queens are readily found, and even in 

 full colonies this is not very difficult, especially if we heed the 

 dictates of interest and keep Italians. It will be best, even 

 'though we have to look up black queens, in full colonies. 

 The loss of one good colony, or the vexatious trouble of 

 separating two or three swarms which had clustered together, 

 would soon vanquish this argument of time. 



To clip the queen's wing, take hold of her wings with the 

 left thumb and index finger — never grasp her body, especially 

 her abdomen, as this will be very apt to injure her — raise 

 her off the comb, then turn from the bees, place her gently 

 on A board or any convenient object — even the knee will do — 



