and its Economic Management. 139 



them in a new situation. In my own case the bees have their 

 own combs all the time, and when liberated the same have already 

 been largely stocked with eggs by the new queen. 



Colonies long Queenless. 



When I am aware a colony has been queenless for any length 

 of time, I generally take out one of the central combs and allow 

 the queen to run among the bees ; if favourably received, replace 

 the comb, but if, as it seldom happens, they reject her, then give 

 them a frame of honey and brood, and insert the queen at night 

 according to the "fasting" method. 



Whatever non-caging method may be followed, it would be 

 well to first follow the fasting method for greater security ; and in 

 times of scarcity it is always better to have the feeding-bottle 

 going when it is decided to insert a queen by any caging process. 



All the foregoing plans have reference to fecundated queens, 

 but with regard to the introduction of virgin queens, hitherto 

 there has been great uncertainty, and the only satisfactory plans 

 I have found are : — (i) By introducing to a confined nucleus as 

 shown above for fertile queens ; (2) by the tubular cage before 

 mentioned ; in this case pressing the open end into thin founda- 

 tion after putting in the young queen. (See also Queen Raising.) 



Queens Dying in Cage. 



When inserting queens by the cage it sometimes happens that 

 they are found dead. This results from one of two causes ; either 

 want of food, or death by stinging or worrying, as the perforations 

 are too large in almost all cages used. The former shows the 

 danger of using such cages as do not press into the combs, should 

 the bees be disinclined to feed the stranger ; while the latter evil 

 can be remedied by using perforations no larger than an ordinary 

 pin will pass. 



Why Queens are Accepted or Rejected. 



It appears to be little understood why some queens are readily 

 accepted and others not. Generally it has been considered that 

 the condition and temperament of the stock was the cause; but I 



