MANIPULATING. 75 



close together and cover up. This plan is so much handier, 

 as, if it is desired at any time to examine the cell, this can be 

 done by simply turning back the quilt, so very slightly dis- 

 turbing the bees ; it is also in the warmest portion — the top — 

 of the hive. 



In about two days — the fifteenth or sixteenth from the day 

 the egg was laid — the virgin queen will come forth. She will 

 then stay in the hive for a varying period, extending from 

 three to seven or eight days, and on the afternoon of a 

 bright, warm, sunny day, she will fly from the hive, but usually 

 for only a couple of minutes, during which time she is taking 

 notes of the surroundings, that she may return in safety 

 to the right hive. Returning again, she will in a few 

 minutes take another flight, and will do this every suitable 

 afternoon for some days until she meets the drone (this taking 

 place high up in the air) and afterwards returns to the hive. 

 During the remainder of the afternoon of this day she will 

 continually fly in and out of the hive, but never leave it after 

 again unless it is to accompany a swarm. In about three days 

 she commences to lay eggs. The bee-keeper will thus have a 

 fertile queen ready to introduce to any colony requiring one ; 

 and if the drones have been reared before any others have 

 been so in other hives, the queen will be fertilised by a selected 

 one. 



The fertilisation of queens by selected drones at other 

 seasons of the year is very uncertain. We will give the best 

 methods to be adopted to accomplish this end under these dis- 

 advantageous circumstances. Upon the evening before the 

 queen is expected to fly, all the nuclei, together with the hive 

 containing the drones, are removed from their stands, placed 

 in a cool, perfectly dark place — the entrances of hives being 

 closed with perforated zinc — and left until the following day 

 about 5.30 or 6 p.m. They are then brought out, and placed 

 on their respective stands. On no account intermix them. As 

 the drones from all other colonies have ceased flying, or are 

 just returning, at this time a good chance is obtained of 

 getting the queens properly fertilised. When the hives have all 

 been placed in position — which must be so that the sun shines 

 directly in the entrances — a little honey is smeared just at the 

 flight- holes of the nuclei, and some thin, warm honey poured 

 over the frames of the hive containing the drones ; this raises 

 a great commotion in the hive, and consequent increase of 

 temperature. The drones will then fly forth, and the queens like- 

 wise. It is very easy to get the queens to fly out, but more 

 difficulty is experienced in getting the drones to do so. Some- 

 times it is expedient, if they will not fly, to lift out a frame, 

 and toss them in the air ; but do not do so if there is a possi- 

 bility of their flying without such extreme measures. 



