32 
NATURAL SWARMING. 
stocks to robbery, giving the bees to another colony. Such a 
stock can seldom be induced to rear a queen at this season if fur- 
nished with material, and even though it should, the bees would 
nearly all be gone before she could replenish its wasting popula- 
tion, should she eventually chance to become fertile. 
The loss of the queen may often be detected in the common hive 
when clearing the bottom-board of worms and litter. (See 
Management for April. ) Carefully scrutinize the droppings on 
the bottom-board each morning for eggs or immature bees. If 
one of either is found, mark that hive as having a fertile queen. 
It is at this season an indication of queenlessness, if the workers 
bring in little or no bee-bread while other colonics are carrying 
in plump, large pellets upon their thighs. If the condition of 
a stock is not determined in a reasonable time, it should receive 
special attention. Turn the hive bottom up, letting the sun 
jhine down between the combs. If no worker brood can be 
seen, diive the bees down with smoke and cut or break out some 
strips of comb, working down among the bees. If any worker 
eggs or brood is found it is enough. But, if only lengthened 
worker cells, with oval caps are found, they contain drone brood, 
the eggs having probably been laid by a fertile worker. If the 
doubtful stock is in a movable-comb hive, it may be opened 
on a mild day, and the combs examined near the centre of the 
cluster of bees. If worker eggs or brood is found, it is conclu- 
sive evidence that a fertile queen is present. But, if only the 
scattering oval caps are seen, join the bees to another colony, and 
preserve the combs for new swarms, or to exchange for frames of 
sealed honey. 
