BEESj BEE-HIVES, AND BEE CULTUllE. 8'3 



the bee-keeper will gain an opportunity of seeing tlie bees set about 

 their wonderful process of raising a queen from the brood thus 

 provided for them. 



When a bee-keeper has become skilful in his callingj he may be 

 desirous to encourage the breeding of queens, or rather of preventing 

 tlieir destruction. He will seek to use the propagating instincts of 

 the worker bees as a set off against that innate hatred of rivalry 

 which prompts the reigning queen to kill the tender royal brood. 



Hives found to be queenless may be supplied either with 

 matured queens or with queen cells. If the latter are sufficiently 

 numerous, their introduction may easily be effected by exchanging 

 a comb in each hive ; if they have to be cut out and placed loosely 

 in the new hive, a triangular piece of comb should then be removed 

 with them, to be used as a block in preventing any pressure coming 

 on them. A space must be cut out of the middle in the centre 

 combs of the hive into which they are to be introduced. Special 

 care must be taken not to bruise the royal embryos, as they are 

 particularly sensitive to pressure. 



A very great advantage that the Woodbury bar and frame-hive 

 possesses, is the safety and convenience with which a stock of bees 

 can in it be transported to any part of the kingdom ; and, by a 

 few additional arrangements, stocks have been sent in it to distant 

 countries. In many districts hives are removed to moors and 

 heaths in autumn, for the purpose of gathering heather honey. 

 In this operation the frames are a great support to the combs, very 

 much lessening the risk of a break down and consequent loss. 



From a hive that has been inhabited all the winter, we have not 

 unfrequently lifted out the frames and removed the stock to a clean 

 hive, and we believe that the change has always been useful. The 

 bees find a clean floorboard and a clean hive to breed in, free from 

 insects that may have harboured in crevices about the hive. When 

 the change has been made, the old hive can be thoroughly cleaned, 

 and used in the same way for making the exchange with another 

 stock. The process for handling will, of course, be the same as 

 before described. We have found that where tlus plan has been 

 carried out, that the bees seem to progress faster. Perhaps a little 

 stirring up may be useful in arousing them from the winter doze ; 

 the time we recommend for doing this is the beginning of April, 

 but a fine warm day should be chosen. 



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