BEE CULTURE, 15 
CLIPPING THE QUEEN’s WING. 
This is done to prevent her from leaving with aswarm. In 
attempting to fly she will fall to the ground in front of the 
hive, and the bees missing her, will return to the hive. This 
must not be done until after the queen has met the drone, 
or she will remain unfertile. To perform the operation, open 
the hive and lift the frame carefully, and avoid jars ; when 
the queen is seen—with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors, lift 
one of the front wings and cut off about one-half of it. It is 
better that she be walking, or at least standing, so that a leg 
be not cut off with the wing. She should not be handled; 
if it becomes necessary to pick her up, be sure not to take 
her by the abdomen. She may be held by the wings without 
danger. 
WASHING OUT DRONE BROOD. 
Undesired drone brood can be very easily washed out of 
the comb by using a rubber sprinkler, which will be found 
very useful for other purposes about the apiary. All that is 
Fig. 48.—Rubber Sprinkler. 
required being a basin with water with which to fill the 
sprinkler, and into which the brood may be washed out. To 
use the sprinkler, compress the bulb, thereby expelling the 
air; then put the nozzle into water, and it will fill itself. 
REMOVING BEES FROM THE COMBS. 
? 
The following is the “shaking off process” as practiced 
and recommended by Mr. G. M. Doolittle: ‘Place the ends 
of the frame on the ends of the two middle fingers of each 
hand, and then, with a quick upward stroke, throw the ends 
