and its Economic Management. 279 



wise. A careful examination will generally reveal her 

 presence; but failing to find her, when you think there 

 should be one, the bees should be given a comb of un- 

 sealed brood, and if they build queen cells thereon it is 

 almost certain no queen is there ; if otherwise, do not risk 

 the life of a valuable queen until the other has been found. 

 With fixed combs the only way is to " drive " the bees out 

 and catch the queen as she ascends. If that cannot be 

 done, then look well among the deserted combs and the 

 bees clustering in the empty skep. The length of the 

 body, as well as its brighter colour, should enable one to 

 distinguish the royal form, while it should be remembered 

 that the queen's legs are always of a reddish brown color, 

 those of the workers being much darker. 



INTRODUCTION BY CAGING. 



Procure a cage made of fine perforated zinc i^-inch in 

 diameter, and i-inch deep, having one end only closed 

 with the same material. When the queen arrives place 

 her in this cage while yet indoors, slip a thin card under 

 and carry her to the hive. Without removing the frames 

 other than to give plenty of room laterally, slide the cage 

 carefully from the card on to uncapped cells of honey, 

 within the margin of the cluster, and press it down to the 

 mid-rib of the comb with a cutting motion. The queen 

 now has plenty of food, and if the perforations are fine 

 enough the bees are unable to molest her. After forty- 

 eight hours, give a puff or two of smoke, carefully 

 examine the condition of the bees nearest the cage, and if 

 simply passing their tongues through the perforations, the 

 queen may be released without fear of the bees attacking- 

 her, but all the same watch their actions closely for a few 

 moments. If all is well the bees will gather around her, 

 but not thickly ; those nearest will clean her with their 



