138 THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
queens should he hatched, if the cells were 
not damaged or shaken by inserting them ; 
in which case the bees will have removed the 
cell and started fresh ones from their own 
brood, should those started before inserting, 
have been destroyed. To he able to give them 
in such case another queen-cell at once, 
another hive should be treated for rearing 
queen-cells in the same manner as the first, 
but about six days later. 
A few nuclei could also be made with so 
many queen-cells from the first lot, which 
queens could be introduced to those hives 
whose queen-cells have been destroyed, and 
should there be no use for them in this 
respect, they could become fertilised in the 
nuclei, and then he introduced to strong 
Colonies. 
From the above remarks it must be noticed 
that brood, from which one or more queen-cells 
are to be reared, can only be given to such 
hive or hives, which have no queen, no queen- 
cells, and no young brood; while queen-cells 
nine or ten days old and young queens may 
be introduced to hives which are at least 
two days without a queen, and which may 
have young brood. It is generally believed 
that the bees would not take to a nearly 
mature queen-cell when they are only just 
starting queen-cells of their owii ; but that is 
without foundation. If a colony is not very 
strong 'as long as they are not crowded in 
the brood room they are considered not very 
strong) it has no objection to receive a queen 
about nine days earlier. As soon as the 
young queen has left the cell she looks about 
and destroys the rest of- the queen-cells. 
This saves the beemaster the trouble of 
destroying them. But should a hive he found 
to have no queen-cells of its own, it is now 
time enough to destroy them, and insert 
another, or give some young brood, from 
which queen-cells will be reared, and as they 
make ore than one, the surplus may be 
used in other hives or nuclei. 
Strong colonies, in the swarming season, 
will usually rear queen-cells of their own, 
besides the inserted one, and when the queen j 
from the given cell has hatched, she is not 
allowed to destroy the others ; but as soon as 
they are ripe the fii-st will leave with a 
swarm. This indicates that strong colonies 
are not inclined to accept directions in the 
shape of queen-cells, or even fertile queens, as > 
1 shall explain further on. 
To introduce virgin queens is of very little 
use ; it is combined with more risk than 
introducing queen-cells, and, therefore, not 
often done. A queen, which has just left the 
cell is easier accepted by the queenless bees 
than one some days old. 
We come, now to the 4th, and I consider 
the most important case of introducing, viz. : 
Fertilised queens. Such queens may he 
introduced at any time, as long as the bees 
have no other queen, and no queen-cells, i 
But how are these queens to be got ? Forth® 
last ten years I have reared about five 
hundred queens each year, partly in stock- 
hives, and partly in queeu-rearing boxes. I ' 
These- boxes measure about 3'.0 cubic inches, 
hold three small frames, with a couple of 
hundred of bees, and they are excellent for ! 
the purpose. A queen gets impregnated here I 
as well — in fact, earlier than iii a stock-hive — 
while the operations are easier and quicker 
performed. Two days after .a queen becomes 
fertilised she begins to lay eggs, and she may 
now he introduced to a stock -hive, if wanted; 
or she is left until the young bees begin to 
hatch, which prove of what quality the queen 
is. If her progeny proves to be pure she is 
introduced in a stock-hive, where an inferior 
one is removed ; should the progeny prove 
cross-bred she is at once killed. 
About three days after the queen lias 
been removed this little hive receives a 
queen-cell of about niue or ten days old. 
Four or five days later it is ascertained 
if the young queen is out, and if so 
her color is marked. If ho queen can be 
found, and the cell is destroyed, their owii 
cells are destroyed, if any, and another cell is 
given. Each little box supplies about 10 
queens during one season, especially if the 
queens, or some of them, are taken soon after 
they begin to lay ; and as we use thirty such 
boxes, we rear about 300 queens in them each 
1 season. The queen-cells are all reared in 
strong stock-hives, and taken When ten days 
old. All these queens reared in the small 
boxes are introduced to strong stocks, and at 
any time in the summer season, while in 
! winter no queens are reared. Therefore, I 
need not say that different methods are used 
and tested, and that I have noticed cases 
which would puzzle many an amateur, and 
some would boast as if they discovered a new 
America. In page 6, “ Something New 
About the Business" is such a blow. Iam 
unable to see the New, practical or theoretical* 
The circumstances are natural, but not new ; 
while the conclusions are wrong, and without 
fact. But I would take too much space to 
criticise said New's ; the practical beeinan 
requires no guide in this respect, and the 
novice may be satisfied with a hint. 
It remains now to explain how impregnated 
queens may he introduced. 
To let the new queen run into the hive and 
amongst the bees as soon as the old one is 
removed, or a few hours afterwards, I have 
abandoned. I cannot admit that this is the 
best method. Therefore I cage all queens for 
two days. My cage is a tin rim, of three- 
quarters-of-an-inch by 1) inch diameter. One 
end of this rim is covered by a wire netting, 
and which forms one-quarter-of-an-inch Of the 
rim also,, so that the cage is 1 inch broad or 
deep. The queen is caught in this cage, ' and 
placed on the comb in about the centre of the 
brood-nest, on a spot with no brood, but a few 
