122 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTEALASIA 



Queens as sent out from the breeder's yards in mailing- 

 cages, are usually accompanied by a sufficient number of 

 worker-bees to maintain an equable temperature, and to 

 act, as it were, like a series of live springs. When in 

 transit the bees cling to the sides of the cage and so 

 minimise the effects of a jar. One of the compartments 

 is filled with queen-food. 



QUEEN-CANDY. 



This candy is prepared with honey and powdered 

 sugar, kneaded until it is of the same malleable consis- 

 tency as putty. The object is to work it very thoroughly 

 so that a fairly high temperature will not thin it enough 

 to run, at the same time care must be exercised not to 

 make it too hard. Some badly made candy becomes so 

 hard that it is impossible for bees to eat it. 



A good practical way, is to heat some honey until it 

 is very thin. Great care must be taken to make sure the 

 honey is not diseased, for foul brood may be disseminated 

 in this way. Only the best should be used for this 

 purpose. Stir in as much powdered sugar as it will take 

 up, afterwards adding more when working it with the 

 hands, until it assumes a putty-like consistency. 



CAGING QUEENS. 



When the end compartment of the cage is filled with 

 candy, a piece of oiled paper or vegetable parchment is 

 covered over it. Wire gauze is then partially nailed on, 

 The end of the gauze can thus be raised sufficiently for 

 the apiarist to run in the queen and from 15 to 30 worker 

 bees. To do this is a simple matter; the opening of the 

 gauze must be at the lowest point, because most insects 

 run upwards, and bees are no exception to this rule. 

 Keep the thumb of the left hand pressing down the wire ; 

 lift out the comb holding the queen, and pick her up by 

 the wings with the index finger and thumb of the right 

 hand and release the wire-cloth sufficiently to permit the 

 queen to enter. 



