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frames necessitates the constant refitting of the frames with 

 comb foundation, but the value of the extra wax recovered 

 (having in mind especially the depredations of the wax moth 

 in old stored comb) greatly exceeds the extra expense. With 

 a heavy flow of nectar extending over a short period there 

 might be some advantage in having the old comb to place in 

 the hive, but it is doubtful if a full sheet of comb foundation 

 is not equally as good. 



In all extensive bee business there is a constant demand for 

 large numbers of queen bees, but since queen breeding is a 

 line of work altogether apart from ordinary apicultural man- 

 agement and with peculiar exactions in the way of time and 

 skill, it is a matter of opinion whether it is more economical 

 to buy queens from a regular queen breeder or to go into 

 queen breeding on one's own account. Under any circum- 

 stances, to secure good and economical results this work re- 

 quires the constant attention of one person. The methods of 

 queen rearing are extremely simple, when once grasped, but 

 require a large degree of application and much attention to 

 detail. Many methods of doing this work are in vogue : the 

 description of one is sufficient. A few tools and appliances 

 are necessary. A cell molder, budding needles, frames for 

 holding queen cells, jelly spoons and queen cages, etc., form 

 part of the equipment. The operation begins by preparing 

 artificial queen cells on a special frame and procuring a little 

 royal jelly from a natural queen cell. Natural queen cells 

 are always found in a strong hive that has been without a 

 queen for three days, so that in order to get the royal jelly it 

 is necessary to remove the queen from a strong colony. If the 

 queen happens to be one that is needed, take sufficient bees 

 with her to care for her ; otherwise she may be destroyed. After 

 this the young larvae from which it is desired to rear queens 

 should be procured. Larvae not more than one day old are 

 best employed, and great care should be taken in their selec- 

 tion. Then proceed as follows : Take the budding needle and 

 break down the walls of the queen cells found in the dequeen- 

 ed hive, remove the larvae or immature queens and then with 

 the jelly spoon take just a little of the royal jelly that is found 

 in the bottom of these cells and smear it on the inside of the 

 artificial cell, leaving a small amount at the bottom. All 

 cells being thus treated, once more use the budding needles 

 to transfer the selected larvae from their natural cells to the 

 artificial cells, and as soon as the work is completed, place the 

 frame or frames of queen cells in the hive from which the 

 royal jelly was taken. These frames should be placed near 



