THE beekeepers' DIRECTORY. II7 



be present if queen-rearing is to be practised and made success- 

 fill without removing the queen from a colony of bees. 



So far as described, the plan relates to rearing queens after the 

 honey harvest has passed. To rear queens by the foregoing plan 

 during the honey flow requires quite a different treatment. 



As soon as the best colonies begin to gather hopey they are 

 usually seized with the swarming impulse and at once begin to 

 construct queen-cells and make every preparation to swarm. 

 When a colony is in that condition, the bees are ready to rear 

 queens from the eggs, or larva prepared as above and placed 

 in the brood-nest. While a few cells will be made on the other 

 combs, the bees will rear a queen from every cell-cup prepared 

 and placed in the hive. Now without waiting for the bees to 

 start the queen cells, prepare the eggs for them according to the 

 directions given farther on, and the result will be a fine lot of 

 cells. 



Just before dark of the fourth day after the cell-cups are placed 

 in the hive, remove and place them in a queenless colony, and in- 

 sert a new lot of cell-cups in the cell-building colony. Continue 

 to do this as long as the bees can be induced to rear queens. 



Should a colony cast a swarm it will be necessary to open the 

 hive and destroy or remove the queen-cells that are built on the 

 other combs, and then return the bees and the queen with them 

 to the hive from which the swarm issued and at the same time 

 give them a new lot of cell-cups prepared as the first ones were. 



After the honey^harvest is over no cells will be built except 

 from the ceU-cups placed in the hive. During the honey flow a 

 swarm is pretty suje to issue as soon as one cell is sealed. To pre- 

 vent it, the cells must be removed as soon as possible after they 

 are sealed. The exact time when they will be sealed may be 

 known to an hour. That will be on the eighth day after the egg 

 was deposited in the cell, that is, if the eggs were used the fourth 

 day after the queen laid them. Bear this in mind and it will 

 save much time and trouble. i 



When the cells are removed from the hive the comb and ad- 

 hering bees should be taken with.them and all placed in aqueen- 

 less colony. If any of the cells are not sealed, there will be enough 

 young bees taken with them to finish them. 



If a nucleus is formed it should consist of three standard frames 

 containing plenty of stores ; and if closed, it should be well sup- 

 plied with water for nursing the unsealed brood. 



