and its Economic Management. 243 



By shifting this breeding stock as often as it is found the 

 bees are increasing and working sufficiently to crowd the 

 queen, her hive then always has a population capable of 

 nursing rather than storing, while the main working hive has a 

 constant renewal of young workers, without the usual trouble 

 of uniting and changing surplus receptacles. The queen in 

 the main working stock has very little room for breeding, 

 while there is little inclination to swarm. It is the nearest 

 approach I know of for practically working a colony without a 

 laying queen, with none of its disadvantages, while there is a 

 continuous supply of young bees from the companion hive. 



Young queens can be secured from the breeding stock, 

 •while combs of brood from the same are used for the nuclei ; 

 and the young queen, when mated, exchanged at a convenient 

 opportunity.' In case of swarming, work the new swarm 

 alone until a young queen is mated and laying, and then 

 re-unite after deposing the old queen -as already shewn ; bu 

 when the non-swarming chamber is used that trouble wi 

 seldom arise. 



Notwithstanding that hot thick syrup in cases of emergency 

 is better in cold weather than candy, it must not be supplied 

 in large quantities. Three or four pounds given all at once is 

 sufficient, and will carry any needy colony through until the 

 middle of February, when feeding can be more satisfactorily 

 carried on. 



But, frequently, is there any need to feed at all" at un- 

 seasonable times ? If there is a fair amount of sealed stores 

 in November, far better leave the bees alone until February. 



