1 i6 QUEENS. 



night. It will also be necessary to smoke them more 

 thoroughly at that time. Although most safe, this mode 

 of introducing queens is not altogether desirable. I 

 would prefer to lose one queen in five, and introduce as 

 soon as the old queen is removed, rather than leave the 

 hives queenless the stated time, and lose none. If it is 

 found necessary to change queens in hives that are being 

 extracted at intervals, it may be done easily and success- 

 fully. At a time when the bees are gathering honey in 

 most profusion, and the combs are frequently extracted, 

 the bees will be most completely demoralized, and gen- 

 erally gorged with honey. I have had no trouble in tak- 

 ing away the old queen at such times, and installing a 

 new one in her place. Some introduce a queen by put- 

 ting her in a cage, and tying a piece of thin muslin over 

 the open end, or by using comb for a stopper, which the 

 bees will bite away, and thus affect her release. Others 

 construct a cage of different proportions, leaving one side 

 open, instead of the end. Then a hole is made in a comb 

 filled with honey, by thrusting a knife through, turning 

 it around, and withdrawing it without removing any of 

 the comb. The queen is then confined to one side of the 

 comb by placing the cage over her, and crowding it 

 against the comb. The bees will clear the opening and 

 release the queen. I have practised this method success- 

 fully, but, as a rule, I would prefer releasing her from 

 the cage, instead of allowing the bees to do it. In all 

 cases, an examination should be made at a suitable time 

 to become assured of her safety. 



When it is desired to Italianize native stocks, it is 

 simply necessary to remove the native queens, and intro- 

 duce Italians. In twenty-one days, the young Italian 

 bees will begin to appear, and in six or eight weeks, in 

 the busy season, the natives will all disappeaiv 



