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month, perhaps two months, in a queenless colony, or a queen- 
right colony, if the bees would feed her. Indeed, she might be 
kept in a candied cage if the bees did not feed her, only in that 
case bees having a queen of their own might be hostile to her, 
and this nervous irritation might be bad for a queen. I am not 
sure that it has ever been claimed that the cessation from laying 
was an injury to queens sent through the mails. It doesn’t hurt 
Fig. 23. — The queen laying, surrounded by her retinue of bees. 
a queen to remain all winter without laying. Nor is it likely she 
is injured by ceasing to lay in a dearth long continued. She may 
be injured by being jarred and frightened in the mails, by sudden 
cessation from laying, and especially by being flung about when 
heavy with eggs. 
Queen*, Laying. — Q. How soon will a queen begin to lay after 
being fertilized? 
A. Generally in two or three days, but she may be longer. 
Q. I have an observation hive. The bees were put into this 
hive about June 1, and I have been looking closely for the queen, 
but have never seen her. Is she covered by the workers while 
laying. They have brood and honey sealed. 
A. No, she is not covered when laying; but she may be hid- 
