§ IX.] ITALIANISING. 251 



brood in its deserted condition. Stocks may be divided 

 and artificial swarms formed in this way- — from the end 

 of May to the beginning of July — if the apiarian. has 

 queens in readiness. 



§ IX. ITALIANISING.' 



It requires a considerable amount of apiarian skill to 

 accomplish the union of Italian with common bees, so- 

 that we find by experience it is best to send out complete 

 stocks or swarms of the former. This is particularly 

 desirable now that the packing of whole hives is so easily 

 accomplished by us with the aid of bars and frames. We 

 have sent a great number of stocks to all parts by rail. 

 Still, as the introduction of fertile Italian queens is a 

 frequent practice, and we are ourselves large importers of 

 the same, it is only right to add some directioiis as to 

 the course to be pursued where such union is resolved 

 upon. These queens come over during the summer 

 months, from May to October. They are packed in 

 wooden boxes about five inches square, with a comb of 

 sealed honey in a frame in the centre to feed the queen 

 and the few workers that accompany her on the journey. 

 The old queen should first be removed from the hive, 

 but carefully preserved till it is ascertained whether all 

 goes well with the stranger. The box containing the 

 latter must now be prised open, arid this should be done 

 within doors, lest the queen should fly and be lost. On 

 discovering her she must be placed in a queen-cage and 



