ii8 A Modem Bee-Farm 



stand. On the third day thereafter make up nuclei in like 



manner from the same hive, leaving the younger brood in the 



original hive, as there will be plenty of bees to take care of the 



same. Bearing in mind that they have lost their queen and having 



already prepared for building queen cells, no - farther excitement 



will take place, and not one-fourth the number of bees will return 



to the old hive, as when the nuclei are drawn from one with a 



queen presiding. 



Insert the young queens the same evening by placing them 



in my 



Virgin Queen Cage, 



which is a small tube of finely perforated tin or zinc, about J-inch 

 in diameter and 2 inches long ; one end being stopped with the 



Tubular Virgin-queen Cage. 



same material, and after the queen is placed in, the open end is 

 pressed into super foundation, when with a slight turn a piece is 

 cut out which completely stops the opening. The cage is now 

 carried to the nucleus and inserted between the upper part of two 

 combs, wax end downwards. The young queen soon bites her 

 way out, just as she has done from her natural cradle. The cage 

 should be passed down so as to bruise the cappings of honey to 

 ensure that she is well provided for, and as she will then partake 

 of the same honey as the workers it is all in her favour. I have 

 found this the most satisfactory method of any for giving virgin 

 queens. The best time for inserting them being the evening ; 

 and when a laying queen is removed, the young one to follow 

 must not be inserted until the second day after. 

 We shall probably have 



Surplus Virgin Queens, 



and where these cannot be accommodated by breaking up other 

 stocks, one-frame nuclei must be on hand provided with thorough 



