CHAPTER XI. 
CHANGING OLD QUEENS FOR YOUNG ONES. 
N my plan of bee management, if a stock does not 
() change its queen for three years in succession, 
the fourth season the old queen should be taken away, 
if she shows the least sign of failing, and a young laying 
queen substituted in her place. It often happens, if the 
queen in a stock dies or becomes seriously injured, that 
the bees will, of their own accord, rear another to take 
her place. But if her failure has been gradual, the bees 
may not have the means to do so, when she at last fails 
entirely, for the reason that she may cease laying, for 
several days or weeks previously to her death, in which 
case it would be impossible for the bees, without assist- 
ance, to rear another queen to take her place. They 
must have an egg not over five days old, from which to 
rear a queen. The great necessity of close observation, 
in order to keep each stock always supplied with a healthy 
prolific queen, caunot be impressed too strongly on the 
mind of every bee keeper. Be sure not to neglect this 
very important point in successful and profitable bee- 
keeping. 
But very few seem to know the average duration of 
life of the honey bee. The average term of life of the 
