QUEEN REARING. 355 
two and one-half days later than those raised from larvre 
three days old. They would consequently hatch in eleven 
and one-half davs instead of ten as usual. 
495. If some Apiarists have noticed that their best 
queens were reared during the swarming fever (455), it is 
because the colonies are then in the best conditions to pro- 
duce healthy queens. They have pollen and honey in 
abundance ; as they are numerous, they keep the combs very 
warm ; and, in addition, they have a large number of young 
bees, or nurses, to take care of the larve (164. ) 
496. The following accidental experiment has proved to 
us that most of the ola workers are unable to act as nurses. 
Years ago, one of our neighbors moved three colonies of 
bees about half a mile, in the Summer, without taking 
proper precautions; we were informed the next day, that 
quite a number of the oldest bees had returned, and had 
clustered under an old table. We brought a hive there, 
with a comb containing eggs and young larve. They took 
possession of it, but neglected to raise a queen, and soon 
dwindled away. 
497. By placing the colonies, intended to raise queens, 
in the same condition as to food, heat, and nursing, as dur- 
ing the swarming fever (455), we will raise as good 
queens as are then raised. If, to these conditions, we add 
the selection of brood, from our best queens (315), we 
will greatly improve the quality of our stock. 
For over twenty years, we have used all the precautions 
described above, and, although our queens have never been 
reared from the egg, they are very prolific and long-lived. 
Using hives with ten or eleven large Quinby-frames (340), 
we are enabled to ascertain, beyond doubt, the prolificness 
of our queens. Our preventing swarming (459) enables 
us also to reckon their longevity. 
498. The interposition of the Apiarist, in queen-rearing, 
may be necessary : 
