and its Economic Management. 



157 



CHAPTER XVI. 



INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN QUEENS 

 TO STOCKS. 



8i?; :i^ 



NEXT to Queen Rearing, one of the most interesting 

 features in connection with modern Bee-keeping is that 

 of inserting queens, that they may preside over another colony 

 with which hitherto they have had no relation. At first sight, 

 therefore, ,it would appear that the bees will not hesitate to 

 destroy the stranger ; under some conditions this is the case, 

 and various ways have been devised to guard against this 

 disposition of theirs. The different methods come under two 

 distinct systems : the old, called " Caging," and the new, 

 known as " Simmins' Direct Introduction." 



Generally speaking, the caging process is carried out by 

 %:: placing the queen in a small perforated compartment, wherein 

 she is confined between two combs among the bees for forty- 

 : eight hours, when the bee-keeper opens the hive carefully and 

 allows the queen to run among her new subjects. If then 

 attacked, sh« must be again confined, and tried after the lapse 

 of another twelve hours. 



Direct Introduction consists in so inserting the queen with- 

 out confinement that the bees are" either unaware of the new; 

 arrival, or are taken advantage of in such a manner that they 

 do not attempt to molest her. 



