176 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



and the colony allowed to rear a new queen, provided only one 

 queen is allowed to mature. Also a colony kept queenless about 

 10 days and then given a laying queen of the current year's 

 rearing. Colonies that do not come under either of these heads 

 will need watching until the time comes when bees have given 

 up starting cells in all colonies. 



LOOKING FOR QUEBN-CELLS. 



We plan to go through each colony about once in ten days 

 to look for queen-cells. I say about once in ten days, for it is 

 not always possible to be exact. It raay happen that one or 

 two daj's in succession will be rainy, and then the ten days 

 become eleven or twelve. Or, it may be that on account of some 

 interference with our work that we can see in advance, we may 

 think it best to- shorten the ten days to nine or less. 



Suppose we go through a certain colony and find no queen- 

 cell with as much as an egg in it. The next time around it may 

 be in the same condition, and so it may continue throughout the 

 season. In that case there is nothing to be done with that 

 colony beyond (he examination every ten days but to let it alone 

 and be thankful. Such cases are not plentiful as I should like, 

 but I think they are on the increase. 



DESTROYING EGGS. 



Suppose, however, that upon one of our visits we find one 

 or more cells containing eggs. AVe destroy the incipient cells 

 by mashing them, and in the record-book write after the date, 

 " keg," a contraction for the expressive, if not very elegant 

 entry, " killed eggs." It is possible that upon the next visit we 

 may find no more queen-cells started, and that may be the last 

 of them for the season. So long as we find only eggs, we do 

 nothing more than to destroy them. 



Generally, however, when eggs are found in cells, the next 

 \'isit will find cells with grubs well advanced. When large grubs 

 are found in cells, then the colony must be treated. 



As ali'oady mentioned, an easier plan than the '' put-up " 

 plan was struck upon, and for a time that had a run. It may 

 be called the excluder plan, and I will now give it as we first 

 practiced it. 



