176 THE APIARY. 



queen-cell to protect it from the mother-bee's animosity, 

 and it also serves to prevent the young queen, when 

 hatched, from escaping; for she will have the same 

 jealous feelmg toward her aster-princesses, '^ould 

 there be more in the hive. The bee-master may thus 

 carefully remove and appropriate her. 



Particular attention will have to be exercised to affix 

 the cage into the comb by pressure, as far as the middle 

 wall, bat at no point must it touch the royal cell itself. 

 As the cage will probably project so as to touch the 

 adjoining comb, a little incision and removal of a por- 

 tion may be necessary, to allow space for it. It can, 

 however, be squeezed into any shape to suit the position 

 required. 



This covering need noit be put over the cell until the 

 ^%g is a little more than a week old. The animosity of 

 the reigning queen does msA. generally manifest itself 

 until the royal brood approaclies maturity. 



It is said that these cells are unmolested on the tenth 

 day, but that on the elevejA day they may be found 

 tenantless. Notwithstanding the apiarian's care and 

 skill, many disappointments are frequently experienced 

 in endeavouring to establisMng fertile young queens at 

 the head of colonies. 



Hives found to be queenless may be supplied either 

 with matured queens or with queen-cells. If the latter 

 are sufficiently numerous, their introduction may easily 

 be effected by exchanging a comb in each hive ; if they 



