34 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



the hive in the cellar or some moderately cool place for twenty-four 

 hours, then set it out of doors, remove the wire and reduce the 

 entrance. The liberation is prcfcreably done near nightfall. 



Four daj's after the first cell is sealed, form small colonies (nuclei) 

 of a frame or two of brood and Ijees, confine them as the cell building 

 colony was treated, liberate them the next evening and give each 

 little colony a sealed cell. To do this easily, cut the cell from the 

 comb together with a piece of the comb, say an inch square, and 

 slightly separating two combs of the small colony (nucleus) place 

 the cell part wa)- down between them and push the combs together 

 enough to hold it. 



Two factors are important in raising queens, food and warmth. 

 The first is secured by having an abundance of young bees (nurses) , 

 and the second li}' the abundance of bees, reduced entrance, and if 

 needs be, as during a cold storm, covering the hive with tarred paper 

 or some similar method. 



The best ciueens are generally raised in warm weather and during 

 a good honey flow. If thcj^ are to be raised when little honej- is to 

 be found in the fields, feeding will be necessary. It must be constant 

 until the cells are sealed. Use only sugar syrup for such feeding. 

 Honey so used is liable to induce robbing. 



RACES OF BEES. 



If the bees one has are good workers and handle fairly well, it is 

 wise to go slow in changing them. Most bees in Rhode Island are 

 Blacks or Italians, or a mixture of the two. Some of the less common 

 races have been introduced, but have soon become merged with the 

 others. The Italian bee is probably the best all-round bee we have. 

 The different strains varj- in color or work in slight degree. If it is 

 desired to change one 's stock, buy a few queens, getting one or two 

 each from different breeders. Try them out for a year and then 

 breed from the best. The " leather-colored " Italians are to be pre- 

 ferred to the " 3'ellow " or "golden" type. 



