144 QUEENS. 



INTEODUOING QUEBKS. 



Four points are necessary to observe in introducing 

 queens. 



1st, that the hive contains no queens or queen- 

 cells. 



2d, that the bees are all induced to fill themselves with 

 honey. 



3d, that the queen is pervaded with the same scent 

 as the bees to which she is introduced. 



4th, that she be introduced in such a manner, that she 

 will not be hastily met as an intruder. 



A failure to meet the first requirement often results in 

 the loss of queens. A cell may be hidden in a sly place 

 and overlooked. For instance, I have known queen-cells 

 to be made between broken edges of transferred combs, 

 which were afterwards built over and concealed, so that 

 no indication of a queen-cell appeared. The fact that 

 such may be the case, favors the immediate introduction 

 of queens. Let us notice some extreme cases where a 

 queen may be present. I have removed a queen that had 

 a defective leg, or that was becoming un prolific, intend- 

 ing to supply her place with another. It was supposed, 

 of course, that being the rule, that no other queen was 

 present ; but during the process I have noticed a cell from 

 which a queen had just issued ; and upon further ex- 

 amination, have found the young queen in another part 

 of the hive. The mode of confining the queen for 24 or 

 48 hours, after the old one is removed, is often practised, 

 but I have known cases where a young queen'has entered 

 such a hive during this time, and destroyed the one intro- 

 duced as soon as released. I mention these instances as 

 I have had them occur in my own experience. The pres- 

 ence of fertile workers often causes the loss of queens 

 when introduced, as the bees are less willing to receive 

 her at such times. The resource in such instances, is, to 



