and its Economic Management. 283. 



then inserting the whole into the desired hive, using a 

 little smoke as in ordinary manipulation. Be careful to 

 carry the comb in an uncovered box from nucleus to 

 full colony, and before inserting the same, part the combs 

 of the hive to give plenty of room and admit light. (See 

 also " Uniting.") 



Simmins' " Fasting riethod," 



long since practiced by myself and first mentioned in my 

 pamphlet upon Direct Introductiori, I have since improved 

 by inserting the queen at night. The three things of impor- 

 tance to be observed are as follows : — (i) Keep the queen 

 quite alone for not less than thirty minutes ; (2) she is to 

 be without food meanwhile ; (3) and to be allowed to run 

 down from the top of the frames after darkness has set in, 

 by lamplight. It is also important that the same recep- 

 tacle be not used twice over for holding the queen during 

 the thirty minutes' probation without first being scalded or 

 otherwise cleansed. Of course, a metal cage is easily 

 made clean, though there is no objection to the cheap 

 "safety" match boxes so commonly in use, as there is 

 nothing obnoxious about this kind. My own practice is 

 to carry the queens in the vest pockets, in small tubular 

 cages made of fine perforated zinc or tin, one end perma- 

 nently closed, while the other end is pressed into a piece 

 of foundation after the queen is in. When ready, remove 

 the foundation and let her run into the hive. Caution : — 

 make no examination after inserting the queen, by either 

 of the two foregoing plans, until forty-eight hours have 

 expired. 



The above meets all requirements, whether the colony 

 has been long, or only a short time queenless ; if it has 

 brood or not, or queen cells in any stage of development. 

 It is also applicable to any season of the year. 



