203 LOSS OF QUEENS. 



out again the uext day, if they do not, it is very often no 

 great loss. Should no such swarm be indicated, go to a 

 stock that has cast a first swarm within a week, smoke it, 

 and turn it over, as before directed, find a royal cell, and 

 cut it out, being careful not to injure it. This must 

 now be secured in the other hive, in such a position that 

 the lower end will be free from any obstacle, which will 

 interfere with the egress of the queen. It will make 

 but little difierenoe whether at the top or bottom, if it 

 be secure from falling, and can be kept warm by the bees. 

 I generally introduce it through a hole in the top, taking 

 care to find one that wiU allow the cell to pass down be- 

 tween two combs. Being largest at the upper end, the 

 combs each side will sustain it, and leave the lower end 

 free. In a few hours the bees will secure it permanently 

 to the combs with wax. This operation cannot be per- 

 formed in a chamber hive, as it is impossible to see the ar- 

 rang€ment of the combs through the holes. To put it in 

 at the bottom is more trouble. The difficulty is, to fasten 

 it, and prevent its resting on the end. It may be done as 

 follows. Take a piece of old tough comb an inch square. 

 Make a hole through the centre large enough to receive 

 the cell, turn up the hive, and spread two combs far enough 

 apart to receive the piece between them, which arrange- 

 ment will secure it from falling. 



The bees will become quiet, soon after such cell is intro- 

 duced. It will hatch in a few days, and they will have a 

 queen as perfect as if it had been one of their own rearing. 

 This queen, of course, will be under the necessity of leav- 

 ing the hive, and will be just as liable to be lost as others, 

 but no more so, and must be watcbed as carefully. 



It is unnecessary to look for a cell in a stock that has cast its 

 first swarm more than a week before, as they are generally 

 destroyed in that time, sometimes, in less, unless they in- 

 tend to send out an after-swarm. When artificial, or lay- 



