ITALIAN STOCKS. 133 



eight queens will sometimes be matured in ten or eleven 

 days J at other times in sixteen or eighteen ; but if the 

 grub is over four days old it is doubtful if it can be 

 changed to a queen. 



" The bees to rear queens should, when practicable, be 

 obtained from hives at least a mile and a half from the 

 place where the queens are to be raised. Take them from 

 a strong colony. If from the box-hive, invert it and drive 

 out a quart or two into an empty hive or box; look out 

 the queen if among them and put her back. If they are 

 to be taken from the moveable comb hive, take out two 

 or three combs and shake off the bees beside the box, into 

 which they will run if it is set down with one edge raised 

 a little, taking care all the time not to get the queen. If 

 the bees have bsen taken from a colony at home it will be 

 necessary to confine them from thirty-six to forty-eight 

 hours, otherwise they may return to the old colony ; but 

 if the bees be taken in the middle of the day the majority 

 will be young baes that have never left the hive, thus far 

 more valuable for your purpose. 



" From noon to 3 p.m. is decidedly the best time in 

 the day to obtain the brood. Whilst busy at work the 

 bees have not time to notice what is going on. Go to. 

 the hive containing your best Italian brood, and take out 

 different combs till you find a brood of the right age, and 

 with a sharp knife cut out suitable pieces. Care must 

 be taken not to allow brood or queen cells to become 

 chilled." 



If several queens be raised at one time in the box 

 they must be watched daily ; the first hatched will ruth- 

 lessly destroy the others, if not prevented. 



We have heard repeated and loud complaints from our 

 neighbours that the yellow bees are dreadful thieves ; there 

 may be some truth in this statement. They will defend 

 their own hives with a determined dogged perseverance to 



