QUEEN KBABING. 255 



two and one-half days later than those raised from larva3 

 three days old. They would consequently hatch in eleven 

 and one-half days 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 tlie 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 larvae (164.) 



496. The following accidental experiment has proved to 

 us that most of the old 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 larvae. Thejr 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 (456), 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 proliflcness 

 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 : 



