20 
NATURAL SWARMING. 
throng the entrance, if the weather is warm and pasturage abund- 
ant, a few queen cells will be commenced at difl'erent limes by 
the workers. These, in most cases, are suspended from the edges 
or inequalities of the combs, with their open end downward. 
From three to ten queen cells are commonly constructed, and the 
egg or larvae, is lavishly supplied with “royal jelly,” a pungent, 
stimulating, light cream-colored substance, when the cell is further 
lengthened down and sealed over. It is now about an inch long, 
and resembles a pea-nut in shape and appearance. In movable 
comb hives, these queen cells are easily found by looking over 
the combs about the time swarms are expected. Y ou can hardly 
mistake them, even though you never 
saw one before. To find them in the 
common hive or gum, blow a few 
whiffs of smoke under the hive from 
a roll of burning cotton rags, tip it 
back and give them more smoke. 
Now raise the hive carefully from the 
stand, and turn it bottom up upon the 
ground without jar, being careful to 
turn it edgewise with the combs to 
prevent their breaking. Keep the 
bees down out of your way with 
the smoke, and let the light pene- 
trate between the combs. If your 
hive is not very deep, some of the 
cells can usually be seen when they 
exist. 
4. Tlili cat represents brood In various 
ftnges from egw» and Inrvui In the lower 
part of the comb to brood capped at «. ami 
just emerging nt /.; n, la a queen cell just 
commenced from larvie ; b, a porfecl 
qToon-eoll capped ovor ; a, a coll from 
which the quuun has just emerged. 
