ADVANCED BEE CULTURE. 147 



brood will be given a young queen in 10 days, and then shaken upon 

 a new set of frames in 21 days, as was done with the populous colony 

 first described. 



A good part of the success of this plan is owing to the medicated 

 food given in the fore part of the season. Of course, the same treat- 

 ment may be given without it, and will be equally eflfective, so far as 

 a cure is concerned, but the condition of the colonies, and the amount 

 of surplus secured, will be far different. 



There is still another method of treating foul broody colonies 

 in which there is no shaking off of the bees; and it has always been a 

 wonder to me that it has not come into more general use. The plan 

 originated with Mr. M. M. Baldridge, of St. Charles, Illinois, and is 

 called the Baldridge method. It is based upon the fact that when a 

 bee leaves a hive naturally, in quest of honey, its sac is free from 

 honey, and it might enter a healthy colony without infecting it with 

 disease. Of course, when it returns with a load of newly gathered 

 nectar, it is still in that harmless condition. Here is the method of 

 management: Bore a hole in the front of the hive, just above the 

 entrance, and near the side of the hive. Over this opening fasten a 

 bee escape in such a position that bees can pass out of the hive 

 through the escape, but cannot return. Next cage the queen of the 

 colony, laying the cage on top of the frames. The following morn- 

 ing go to some healthy colony and select a comb of sealed brood, 

 either with or without the adhering bees, place it in an empty hive, 

 filling out the hive with frames filled with foundation, and set the 

 hive thus prepared upon the stand of the diseased colony, setting 

 the latter to one side, so that the two hives will stand side by side, 

 close together, and fronting in the same direction. Have the bee 

 escape as near as possible to the entrance of the new hive that is on 

 the old stand. It will be seen that all flying bees will return and en- 

 ter the new hive on the old stand; and, as fast as the bees leave the 

 old hive by means of the escape, they will return and join the newly 

 formed colony upon the old stand, as it will be impossible for them 

 to enter the old hive. At sundown of the first day after setting the 

 old hive upon a new stand, open the hive carefully, take away the 

 caged queen, being careful to take no bees with her, and let her run 

 into the entrance of the new hive. All of this work of closing the 

 entrance of the old hive, setting it upon a new stand, and removing 

 the caged queen, should be done as carefully as possible, so as not to 

 disturb the bees and induce them to fill themselves with honey. 

 Nothing more need be done for about a month, by which time the 

 brood will all have hatched, and the bees have left the hive and 

 joined the new colony. The hive shpi}14 be opened in some close 



