316 THE bbe-kebpkr's guide ; 



late autumn, when the bees have ceased activity for the win- 

 ter, they may not lay until spring. 



vai,entine's comb-stand. 



In the work of finding queens, and in other manipulations, 

 it is often desirable to take out frames. If these are set down 

 beside the hive they are liable to injury. J. M. Valentine has 

 given us a " comb stand " (Fig. 143). As will be seen this 

 holds two frames. The platform is handy to receive tools, 

 and the drawer serves well to hold scissors, knife, queen- 

 cages, etc. 



Mr. M. G. Youag has invented an "Easel " (Fig. 143) for 

 the same purpose. This will hold several combs. Of course 

 it will not do to leave combs thus exposed, except when bees 

 are busy in the field, or we will have great trouble with rob- 

 ber-bees. I have not found such devices of sufficient use to 

 trouble with them. 



TO GET OUR 1TA1,IAN QUEENS. 



At present the novice, and probably the honey-producer 

 who prefers to purchase rather than rear his queens, better 

 send to some reliable, experienced breeder, and procure " dollar 

 queens." Unless these are impurely mated, which will rarely 

 happen with first-class breeders, they are just as good as 

 " tested queens." Testing only refers to the matter of pure 

 mating. 



I have felt, and still feel, that this cheap queen-traflic 

 tends to haste, not care, in breeding, and that with "dollar 

 queens " ruling in the market, there is lack of inducement for 

 that careful, painstaking labor that is absolutely requisite to 

 give us the best race of bees. It is justly claimed, however, 

 in favor of the " dollar queen " business, that it has hastened 

 the spread of Italian bees, gives those who rather buy than 

 rear their queens a cheap market in which to purchase, and, 

 best of all, weeds out of the business all but the most skillful, 

 cautious, and honest breeders. Only skillful men can make it 

 pay. Only cautious, honest men can find a market for their 

 stock. We know that men are making a handsome profit in 

 the business, and at the same time are giving excellent satis- 



