me FIFTY TEARS AMONG THE BEES 



away and gave her to a nucleus, a new colony, or wherever a 

 queen was needed. At the end of the ten days I returned her 

 to the colony, placing her directly upon a comb taken from 

 the middle of the brood-nest. Often, however, I gave them a 

 different queen, for after an absence of ten days I doubt if 

 they could tell their own queen from any other. Besides, they 

 were in a condition to take any queen without grumbling. 



After the first year, however, I had some colonies swarm 

 again after the queen was given them. Whether it was the 

 season, the change in the plan, or some other cause, I am un- 

 able to say, 



PUT-UP PLAN. 



I then adopted a plan which relieved me of the necessity 

 of hunting for and cutting out queen-cells. No> matter how 

 careful I might be, there was always a possibility that I might 

 overlook a queen-cell, although this very rarely happened, if 

 ever. But it took a great deal of valuable time. I give here- 

 with the plan, which I think is an improvement. 



When a swarm issues and returns, it is ready for treat- 

 ment immediately ; although usually it is put down in my mem- 

 orandum of work to be done, and the time set for it may be 

 the next day or any time within five days, just as suits my con- 

 venience. The queen is caged at the time of swarming, and left 

 in the care of the bees, as already mentioned. 



Within the five days, I take off the super, and put most 

 of the brood-combs into an enlpty hive. Indeed, I may take 

 all the brood-combs, for I want in this hive all the combs the 

 colony should have. In the hive left on the stand, I leave or 

 put from one to three frames, generally two. These combs 

 must be sure to have no queen-cells, and may be most safely 

 taken from a young or weak colony having no inclination to 

 swarm. The two combs are put in one side of the hive, two or 

 three dummies placed beside them, and the rest of the hive 

 left vacant. 



The question may be asked, "Will not the bees build comb 

 in this vacant part of the hive?" No; at least they do not for 

 me. Queenless colonies are little given to comb-building, and 

 not at all inclined to make a fresh start in a new place. 



