160 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



when the queen was put up, probably had a good quantity of 

 eggs, and brood in all stages. They now contain none but sealed 

 brood, some queen-cells and a pretty heavy supply of pollen. 

 Or, it may be that eggs from a choice queen were given, and the 

 queen-cells are to be saved. A goodly number of bees adhere to 

 the two combs and I know of no nicer way to start a new colony 

 than simply to place the hive in a new location. Or, the bees 

 may be shaken oft at the old stand and the combs given to a 

 nucleus which needs them. 



I may remark in passing, that these queenless colonies will 

 produce queen-cells not excelled by those of a swarming colony, 

 and not surpassed in excellence by those produced by any of the 

 best plans used by queen-breeders. In short, I do not believe it 

 is possible to have better. It must be remembered, however, 

 that all of them are not of equal excellence. For the bees will 

 continue to start cells for several days, and the last ones started 

 will be from larvae too old to make good queens. You may be 

 able to distinguish these cells by their poorer look, or, if you 

 gi\e the bees several cells, among them at least one or two of the 

 finest looking, they will make no mistake in making the proper 

 selection. 



WORKING OF QUEENLESS BEES. 



It may be objected that this keeping bees queenless for ten 

 days makes them work with less vigor. I am not sure but it 

 ought, but I must confess I have had no strong proof of it come 

 directly under my own observation. So far as I could tell, these 

 bees seemed to work just as hard when their queen was taken 

 away as before. In the spring of 1885 one colony was, by some 

 means, left entirely away from the proper rows — some three 

 rods from any other colony. I took it away, put it in proper 

 line, and left to catch the returning stragglers a hive containing 

 one comb, this comb having no brood and very little if anj' 

 honey. This colony having been a very weak one, ^ery few bees 

 returned to the old spot, but these few surprised me by filling a 

 good stock of honey in empty comb, before they were put with 

 the rest of the colony. 



Swnrms treated on this " putting up " plan often swarmed 

 again, but if they did they were put up again. An objection to 



