14 FARMERS' BULLETIN, No. 129. 



cells or even a strip of comb containing eggs (as referred to later). Again, 

 a colony endeavouring to supersede its queen would accept and complete 

 grafted cells, providing the supersedure cells were removed before issue. 

 Sealed brood and young bees separated from the brood nest of a populous 

 colony bjr means of a queen excluder only, will usually give satisfaction in 

 accepting and completing cells. The chief essentials in this case are that 

 the colony must be populous, and have plenty of young bees on the brood 

 above the excluder. Once this colony makes a start, very satisfactory work 

 will be carried out. Some colonies give more satisfaction in this work than 

 others, just as some hens are better mothers for their chickens. It lies to 

 some extent with the owner to find the best parent. 



In each case mentioned the colony should be prepared and a space left in 

 the centre of the brood ne«t for the frame containing the grafts at least 

 twelve hours before they are put in. The apiarist should have on hand a 

 quantity oi royal jelly; this can be obtained from queen cells and kept 

 for a fair time if necessary. 



Call Cups. 



Having selected and prepared a colony to accept cells it will be necessary 

 to make a number of cell cups, these to have a similar inside appearance to 

 that of an embryo queen cell, often noticed on combs in populous colonies 

 during the swarming period; in fact, the embryo cells can be carefully 

 removed and used for the purpose in cases where only a few cells are required. 



Another simple method is to get a piece of soft wax and roll it into a 

 solid ball about f inch in diameter. To form the cup in this ball use a round 

 stick about the same diameter. as an ordinary lead pencil, one end neatly 

 rounded. Although in the first instance the bees may accept a few more 

 cells made with a thin edge (such as Doolittle cell cups) this simple method 

 will be both convenient and effective, and the cells can be used many times 

 by simply cutting them down to form cups. Natural queen cells can be 

 saved and cut down to form cups, and then fastened to a ball of wax for 

 extra strength and convenience. Embryo cells can bo fastened in the same 



Tnfl.nnpr 



manner. 



Haying prepared about twelve cell cups-quite sufficient for one colony to 

 attend to at one time— they can be fastened on a frame. If a full depth 

 body IS prepared to receive them, the cell cups can be pressed on the bottom 

 bar of a shallow super comb, the opening of the cell cups pointing downward 

 Another method is to cut out a portion of th,.^ comb and fit a middle bar in 

 a, trame ; the cell cups can then be fastened to this bar. When fastened the 

 cell cups are put in the hive and left there for about one hour before' the 

 larvre is transferred, for the purpose of having them primed. 



Transferring Larvae. 

 This operation is best perfornied during the warmest part of the day 

 Remove the frame containing the cell cups, and supply each^one with a smaU 

 drop of royal jelly-previously kept in a warm pkce^ Carry the frame to 

 your best Italian colony, and select a frame of brood containfng the nZute 

 arva. noticed surrounded by chyle food. The wall of the cell conta nin' 

 the selected larva, can be broken down and the transferring needle immersed 

 m the chyle food and raised so as to carefully lift the tinv JJub tTTI^ 

 transferred to the prepared cell cup and floated othe^iSielfv t^h" 



