MANUAL OF THE APIARY. 185 



if robbers are abundant, it is more difficult to succeed, and at 

 such time the utmost caution will occasionally fail of success 

 if the bees are old. 



A young queen, just emerging from a cell, can almost always 

 be safely given at once to the colony, after destroying the old 

 queen. 



A queen cell is usually received with favor. If we adopt 

 this course we must be careful to destroy all other queen- 

 cells that may be formed ; and if the one we supply is de- 

 stroyed, wait seven days, then destroy all their queen-cells, 

 and they are sure to accept a cell. But to save time I should 

 always introduce a queen, 



If we are to introduce an imported queen, or one of very 

 great value, we might make a new colony, all of young bees, 

 as already described. Smoke them well, sprinkle with 

 sweetened water, daub the queen with honey, and introduce 

 immediately. This method would involve really no risk. If 

 the apiarist was still afraid, he could make assurance still 

 more sure by taking combs of brood where the young bees 

 were rapidly escaping from the cells ; there would soon be 

 enough young bees to cluster about the queen, and soon 

 enough bees for a good colony. This plan would not be advi- 

 sable except in warm weather, and care is also required to pro- 

 tect from robbers. The colony might be set in the cellar for 

 a few days, in which case it would be safe even in early spring. 



By having a colony thus Italianized in the fall, we may 

 commence the next spring, and, as described in the section 

 explaining the formation of artificial swarms, we may control 

 our rearing of drones, queens, and all, and ere another autumn 

 have only the beautiful, pure, amiable, and active Italians. 

 I have done this several times, and with the most perfect sat- 

 isfaction. I think by making this change in blood, we add 

 certainly two dollars to the value of each colony, and I know 

 of no other way to make money so easily and pleasantly. 



TO GET OUR ITALIAN QUEEN. 



Send to some reliable breeder, and ask for a queen worth 

 at least five dollars. It is the mania now to rear and sell 

 cheap queens. These are reared— must be reared — ^without 

 care, and will, I fear, prove very cheap. It is a question, if 



