130 QtrEENS. 



we select tlae finest stock to propagate from, if we expect 

 to secure the best qualities. We also apprehend the ne-. 

 cessity of introducing from time to time, superior strains, 

 and of breeding from parents not akin. Who can fail to 

 perceive the injury that must have come to our native 

 bees from two sources, viz., from being propagated from 

 inferior stock, and from in-breeding ? 



A prime consideration then, preliminary to the proper 

 rearing of queens, is, that at least two distinct strains of 

 blood of best quality should be represented. This is 

 easily done, if Italian stock is to be raised, by ordering 

 tested queens from different breeders, who are known to 

 have procured their stock from distinct sources. In pur- 

 chasing such queens, do not hesitate to pay a good price 

 for a first-class queen. Every breeder has queens which 

 he values at high prices, and if you can secure one that a 

 reliable dealer considers worth $5.00, you are fortunate, 

 even when ordinarily good ones are selling for $2. 00. 



It will be seen, as we proceed, that the quality of the 

 strains from which the queens are to be reared, may be 

 definitely determined, as the brood used may be taken 

 only from colonies containing selected queens. But 

 the characteristics of the drones by which these choice 

 queens are to be fertilized, will be much more un- 

 certain. 



It is true we can prevent the swarms from which we 

 rear our queens, from producing drones, thereby setting 

 one obstacle aside ; and it is also evident that we need not 

 allow any but selected colonies to rear drones, by remov- 

 ing drone combs, and destroying such drone brood as is 

 objectionable. If any mature drones are in the way, 

 they may be removed as follows : Cage the queen, 

 brush all the bees from the combs into a box, and place 

 over it a board, Avith an opening, across which are 

 nailed strips of tin or zinc, precisely "/,, in. apart. 

 These openings will permit the workers to pass into the 



