216 dr. miller's 
Shipping Bees.— Q. Will shipping bees cause queens to be 
drone-layers ? 
A. When queens arc shipped by mail in cages, it is not a very 
uncommon thing that they are somewhat affected as to their 
laying, but I don’t remember that I ever heard of a queen being 
made a drone-layer by it, and I don’t think I ever heard of a 
queen being seriously affected when shipped in a full colony. 
Q. Do I have to have my bees inspected before I can ship 
them? They are free from foulbrood. 
A. It depends upon the laws of the state into which you ship. 
Some states require inspection, and others do not. Whether they 
have foulbrood or not has nothing to do with the case; if the law 
requires inspection, all bees shipped into the state must be in- 
spected. Better have them inspected as a safeguard. 
Q. When is the best time to ship bees in the spring? 
A. In freezing weather the combs are somewhat brittle, and 
likely to break easily, and the bees do not stand a journey as well 
as when more active. When combs are filled with honey they are 
likely to break in transit, and if too warm there is more danger 
that the bees may suffocate. So the best time in spring is while 
the combs are mostly empty, any time after it is warm enough 
for the bees to fly nearly all day. 
Q. I am considering shipping bees in the fall, say 100 miles or 
more, and then giving them a good flight before putting them in 
the cellar. Do you think it injurious to their wintering well to 
ship them in the fall? 
A. If they have a good flight before being taken in the cellar, 
I should not expect any harm, from the journey. The excitement 
of the journey, however, would make them eat a little more, so 
you would have to be a little more careful to see that they had 
stores enough. 
Q. How would you advise packing a colony of bees which is 
to be shipped by freight to New York from Texas in early spring? 
A. There must be good ventilation, and everything as firm as 
possible. You can make sure of the first by having a cover en- 
tirely of wire-cloth. Under this it may be well to have a sponge 
filled with water. If the frames are loose-hanging they must be 
made secure, either by nails driven down through the ends of the 
top-bars or by spacing with sticks. Put on written instructions 
for the hive to ride so the frames shall be parallel with the rails, 
a hand or an arrow to point toward the engine. 
