124 MONEY IN BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



a colony and runs in a qneen. If the colony contains an 

 old mother the introduced queen supersedes her. Virgins 

 are introduced with the same facility. With the Simmins 

 method, the queen is hungry, and desires company, so 

 she protrudes her tongue and runs to the bees asking 

 for food in a way similar to what their own mother would 

 do. Thus they are cheated into a kindly reception of the 

 stranger. 



Virgins are easily introduced to any queenless stock, 

 when not more than a few hours old; in fact, a colony 

 with a laying queen will accept them until they attain a 

 little age. They are then balled and stung. The intro- 

 duction of old virgins is so risky, that it is not worth 

 practising. Therefore the basis of the success of the 

 ' ' Miller ' ' system is not easy to define. Supersedure will 

 sometimes take place when a young queen is reared 

 above a queen-excluder. "When the excluder is removed, 

 the young queen goes down to the brood-nest, and some- 

 times deposes the old mother. That this invariably 

 happens is not the experience of the author. ' 



A SAFE WAY. 



When a large sum has been paid for a good queen — 

 perhaps an imported one — the novice has no wish to 

 take any chances with her. A good plan, and what is 

 really the only certain way, is to place a wire screen 

 (Fig. 77) over the brood-nest of a strong colony, and set 

 an empty body on the screen. Look over some brood- 

 nests, and select 3 or 4 combs where young bees are just 

 hatching out. Shake off every live bee, and place the 

 frames in an empty body; do not forget to give a comb 

 containing honey and pollen. The queen is then released 

 on the combs, and the hive closed. 



In a day or so, enough young bees will have hatched 

 to keep the queen company; no brood will be chilled 

 because the heat from the colony below will keep it warm. 

 When a little cluster has formed the body may be removed 



