I30 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



suspended in the hive. On the lapse of the requisite 

 time (third day) the Queen is liberated by simply press- 

 ing the top of the wire downwards, which throws the 

 door open, converting it into a gangway, by which she 

 walks forth to meet the attendants who have been feed- 

 ing her, and are familiar with her presence ; they form 

 her body-guard, and the risk of encasement is reduced 

 to the minimum. With all cages stuck inio the combs, 

 the Queen can only be set free after the hive has been 

 opened up, and the Workers, being newly and thoroughly 

 disturbed, are in their most irritable mood. Should the 

 pipe cover cage set in a bung-hole be employed, it is 

 requisite to draw it out and invert it, the attendants 

 clinging to the bottom of the cage are transferred to 

 the outside of the hive, and the Queen is forced to 

 stem the upward stream of stranger Bees trying to 

 force their exit. This cage permits the Queen to be 

 liberated without the smallest disturbance to the hive 

 generally." 



Bee-keepers are not agreed as to the time necessary 

 to keep Queens confined ; some think three days, others 

 are satisfied with one, and I have known six hours suffi- 

 cient, her majesty walking out in safety after the lapse 

 of that time. In using the wire cage of the Renfrewshire 

 Bee-keeper, it will be perceived that it is not thought 

 necessary to provide the Queen with any food ; and I 

 and others have been so sceptical as to doubt that Bees 

 who are anxiously seeking an opportunity to destroy 

 the Queen would yet feed her. That they will do so 

 occasionally is certain, but it is only when honey is freely 

 coming in ; at other times they will ruthlessly let her 

 starve, therefore it is safest to cage her majesty on some 

 full honey-cells. Failures in introducing Queens will 

 now and then occur whatever care be used, and they 



