1404 Department of Ageicultuee 



The above described cage has been slightly enlarged by some; 

 others have recommended that it be placed over hatching brood, but 

 T have failed to discover anj improvement by so doing, although 

 this is optional with the operator. By making the cage of the 

 depth recommended the projecting wires will just penetrate the 

 septum and the cage containing the queen will not project above 

 the surface of the comb enough to interfere with the spacing. 

 Cloth woven with rather heavy wires is best, since the projecting 

 wires are not so easily bent out of shape. ^Vhen not in use, these 

 cages are best kept in shape by meshing the projecting wires of two 

 cages together. 



The " West " cage 

 is also used for in- 

 troducing queens,* 

 and is found very 

 useful for general 

 use about the 

 apiary for caging 

 queens and queen 

 cells during the 

 swarming season. 

 It is provided with 

 a food chamber 



Fir^l. Queen Cage Fig. IT Queen Cell Cage ^'^^i^h is very con- 

 (Originai) (Original) venient and safe. 



Queens are best introduced during the honey flow. If it is neces- 

 sary to introduce them at other times, they may be fed moderately, 

 being careful not to induce robbing which would invite defeat of 

 the object sought. 



It is difficult to introduce a queen in a colony which has been 

 queenless for any length of time. ^lany of such contain fertile or 

 laying workers which complicate matters still more. The follow- 

 ing is a very good method of introducing a queen to such a colony : 

 Eemove two combs from the centre of the queenless colony ; then 



See ill'. West's Metliod, page 1409. 



