132 



A Modern Bee-Farm 



CHAPTER XIX. 



INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN QUEENS 

 TO STOCKS. 



NEXT to Queen Raising one of the most interesting features 

 in connection with modern Bee-keeping is that of inserting 

 queens, that they may preside over another colony with which 

 hitherto they have had no relation. At first sight, therefore, it 

 would appear that the bees will not hesitate to destroy the stranger ; 

 under some conditions this is the case, and various ways have 

 been devised to guard against this disposition of theirs. The 

 different methods come under two distinct systems : the old called 

 " Caging," and the new, known as " Direct Introduction." 



Generally speaking, the caging process is carried out by 

 placing the queen in a small perforated compartment, wherein 

 she is confined between two combs among the bees for forty-eight 

 hours, when the bee-keeper opens the hive carefully and allows 

 the queen to run among her new subjects. If then attacked, she 

 must be again confined, and tried after the lapse of another twelve 

 hours. 



Direct Introduction consists in so inserting the queen without 

 confinement that the bees are either unaware of the new arrival, 

 or are taken advantage of in such a manner that they do not 

 attempt to molest her. 



Of course it is understood that no other queen is to be in the 

 hive at the time another is to be given, or the new one will 



