238 FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



one. The only reason I have for so believing is the expressed 

 preference of the bees themselves. Give them larvas of all ages 

 from which to select, and they always choose that which is two 

 days old, or younger. Indeed, it will be seen that in the comb 

 from which I have trimmed the edge (Fig. 80) the larva3 on 



Fig. 84 — Woman's Bee-Dress. 



the edge of tlic comb have been out of tlie egg but a short time, 

 for I merely tiiramed awajr the eggs, and possibly not all of 

 them. 



PLACING THE BREEDING-COMB. 



The breeding-comb, thus properly tinmmed, is taken to the 

 queenless colony, and ]>ut in the vacancy that was left for it. 

 On the top-bar of the frame is penciled the date on which the 

 cells are to be cut out, allowing ten days from the time of put- 



