iS8 A MANUAL OF BEE-KEEPING. 



ways; the best and simplest is to depose the whole of the 

 reigning sovereigns, and elevate to their vacant thrones 

 fertile Ligurians, which are now imported in considerable 

 numbers at irregular intervals, and are generally bespoken 

 on their arrival ; for in the little boxes they arrive in they 

 will not thrive long, and the casualties of the journey are 

 sometimes serious. Supposing these have to be pur- 

 chased, the expense will depend on the month in which 

 the operation is to be performed. If the Bee-keeper 

 determines to commence his season with the new 

 Queens, they will cost in May or June from 12s. to 15J. 

 each, but if he be content to wait till September, about 

 half the money will suffice. 



This is a considerable reduction from their value when 

 first introduced, which was something like two guineas. 

 At the price now obtainable, they will amply repay 

 their speculative purchaser, for there is no question the 

 Ligurian variety is a far better worker and breeder than 

 our old friends. They may be seen sallying forth to work 

 long before the true Britons, and still labour after their 

 neighbours have sought their well-earned rest. The 

 Queens are more prolific, probably because of the above; 

 for whilst food comes into the hive, breeding will go 

 on, and if supplies are stopped, so is egg-laying. The 

 introduction of a Ligurian stock is a general source of 

 benefit to the other Bees of the neighbourhood, for the 

 natural law of " fresh blood " giving vigour holds good 

 with Bees as with larger animals, and very quickly it will 

 be found the progeny of many young Queens will show 

 signs of love-making by the strangers. 



The Egyptian Bee has several times been imported 

 into England, but has been found very irritable, with no 

 good qualities to counterbalance this very serious fault. 

 The Carniolian or Hungarian Bee is occasionally im- 



