68 
slightly opened the queen shall have access to the hive: all this 
should be done as quietly as possible without using a subduer 
or disturbing the bees ; then slightly withdraw the cover of the 
match box, leaving the inner portion in position over the hole 
in the quilt; the queen will then move quietly into the hive ; 
cover up and leave the hive undisturbed for two days. 
Bees may be safely forwarded by post in boxes made for the 
purpose, accompanied by a few workers 
154. Sending Queens and a supply of food. The style of box 
by Post. illustrated (Q., Fig. 17) is very suitable ; it 
consists of a piece of wood four inches long 
by two inches broad by ? inch thick, in which two holes of 1} 
inches diameter are bored to a depth of } inch, the holes being 
1 inch apart from centre to centre ; two small holes 3 inch in 
diameter are bored to the same depth at the end of and opening 
into one of the large holes; the box is covered with a lid of 
perforated zinc, secured at one end by a tack. When required 
for use fill the two small holes with a mixture of honey and soft 
candy (174), or honey and fine white sugar, worked together to 
the consistency of stiff putty, put 18 to 24 workers in the large 
space and then place the queen in that space with them; tie 
the cover in position, then loosely wrap the cage in a strip of 
calico, linen, or paper, taking care to leave ample ventilation, 
tie over all, and attach an address label, or enclose the whole in 
an envelope, the corners of which should be cut off to afford 
ventilation; mark the package ‘“‘ Live Bees.” 
As it is always advisable to have on hands spare fertile queens, 
any queen not required at the end of 
155. Wintering the season may be wintered on three or 
Spare Queens. four frames placed behind the dummy of 
a stock hive; these frames should be well 
crowded with bees, and fully two-thirds of two of them, and at 
least half of the others, should be filled with sealed stores. An 
entrance should be made at the back as for nuclei (57), and an 
alighting board should be fitted. 
XXI. STORING AND MARKETING HONEY. . 
When it is intended to sell honey, the sections as removed 
from the hive should first be cleaned by 
156. Grading and scraping the wood to remove any wax or 
Storing Sections. propolis adhering thereto; they should 
then be graded into classes as follows :— 
First grade sections should weigh 17 ounces gross, be well filled, 
completely and evenly capped, free from brood marks and pop 
holes, with even faces to the combs, uniform in colour, of good 
appearance and quality, and firmly attached to wood all round. 
Second grade sections should correspond to first grade sections, 
except that the weight may fall as low as 15 ounces gross, and the 
other conditions need not be so thoroughly fulfilled. All other 
sections may be regarded as third grade, and such as will sell only 
