334 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 



and the bees have never done as you say. There may be 

 one or more cells started on their own brood, rarely more 

 than two or three, but these need not be used, and there 

 will always be a good supply on the comb you have given. 

 It is so much better suited to their purpose that they 

 don't seem to care to use the old combs. 



QUALITY OF QUEENS. 



The question has been raised whether queens reared 

 in the way I have described are as good as those reared 

 by the latest methods. I think I can judge pretty well 

 as to the character of a queen after watching her work 

 for a year or two ; I have kept closely in touch with what 

 improvements have been made in the way of queen-rear- 

 ing, and have reared queens by the hundred in the latest 

 style ; and I do not hesitate to say that the simple method 

 I have given produces queens that can not be surpassed 

 by any other method. 



BEGINNER IMPROVING STOCK. 



I have been asked whether I would advise a beginner 

 with only half a dozen colonies, one of them having a 

 superior queen, to use the plans I have given to rear 

 queens from his best queen. I certainly should, if he in- 

 tends to give much attention to the business and increase 

 the number of his colonies. The essential steps to be 

 taken are simple enough ; and even a beginner can easily 

 follow them. But in a few words, here is what I would 

 advise him : 



Take from the colony having your best queen one of 

 its frames, and put in the center of the hive a frame with 

 a small starter of foundation or comb. A week later 

 take out this comb, and trim away the edge that contains 

 only eggs. Put this prepared frame in the center of any 

 strong colony after taking away its queen and one of its 

 frames. Ten days later cut out these cells, to be used 



