SURPLUS QUEENS. 96 



notice the use of these spare queens. Hives that yield 

 fiist swarms have sometimes small second swarms taken 

 from them, and two of these united thus making one 

 good swarm — leaving the old ones strong in bees, and 

 scarcely feeling the loss of those taken from them. Let 

 us, by figures, show how this is done. 



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 1st Swarm. Stock. Stock, ad Swarm. Stock. Stock, ist Swarm. 



At the commencement of the season, let us suppose we 

 have two stock-hives — standing at 2 and 6. When the 

 swarms are taken from them they are moved to 3 and 5, 

 and the swarms to 1 and 7. 2 and 6 are blotted out for 

 the present, and 4 remains unoccupied. Suppose we 

 want one swarm more from the old stocks. Part of a 

 swarm is taken from each and set at 4, removing the old 

 ones back to their original stands, 2 and 6, leaving 3 and 

 5 empty. If it be deemed advisable to take a second 

 swarm from each, and keep them separate, their positions 

 will have to be arranged a little differently. 



Surplus Queens. 



Now we come to notice the uses of these surplus queens. 

 By using them aright, the bee-keeper does exercise some 

 master-strokes of policy and good management. They will 

 be welcomed into hives without queens, and into hives 

 with princesses unmatured, if presented to them. Sup- 

 pose we have one or two hives ready to swarm for the 

 first time when such queens are available. We hasten 

 to take swarms from them ; and as soon as the bees in 

 the old hives have discovered the loss of their own 

 queens, we give them young ones instead. The hives 

 that thus get queens as soon as their own are taken from 



