HOW TO KEEP BEES. 43 



Another simple way is to take a ccmb, preferably not a very old 

 one, put it in the middle of the colony from the queen of which it is 

 desired to raise new queens and five days later remove it. It will be 

 found to be filled with eggs and very small larvae. With a knife 

 slice off a couple of inches or more from the lower part of the comb. 

 This is to give the bees a better opportunity to build cells and also 

 they will be built in a more convenient place for the bee-keeper. 



Place this comb with its adhering bees, but without the queen, in 

 an empty hive and on each side of it place a comb containing honey 

 and pollen. Also give water or thin sugar syrup in a division board 

 or other feeder. Now shake into this hive all the bees from two 

 frames taken from the center of the same or of another good colony, 

 being sure not to get the queen. Close the hive entrance with wire 

 cloth and put the hive in the cellar or some moderately cool place for 

 twenty-four hours, and then set it out of doors, remove the wire and 

 reduce the entrance so that only one or two bees can pass at a time. 

 The liberation is preferably done near nightfall. 



Three days after the first cell is sealed, form small colonies (nuclei) 

 of a frame or two of brood and bees, 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 way down between them and push the combs together 

 enough to hold it. 



Handle queen cells very gently. Keep them right side up, do not 

 expose them to the direct rays of the sun and if the day is cool 

 prevent their being chilled. 



Two factors are important in raising queens, larval food and 

 warmth. The first is secured by having an abundance of young bees 

 (nurses), and the second by 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 queens are generally raised in warm weather and during 

 a good honey flow. If they are to be raised when little honey is to 



