14 
BEE-CULTURE. 
destroy all the queen cells they have started, then give them 
some comb containing brood. From this a number of royal 
cells will be produced to be distributed to other hives in eight 
or nine day3. If a movable comb hive is used, a comb con- 
taining eggs and larvae from tbc Italian may be exchanged 
for a comb of the queenless colony ; or two or three pieces of 
comb, from three to five -inches long, and an inch or more 
wide, containing eggs and larvae, just hatched, may be in- 
serted in holes cut in the brood combs of the queenless colony 
to receive them, like cap-stones over doors and windows, leav- 
ing a half-inch or more space below them to give room for 
the oells to be built downwards. 
I am asked: “Do you pretend to say that any person may 
thus manipulate bees without being stung almost to death ? 
Can bees really be handled with any degree of safety?” 
I must say, I think no one can handle bees much without 
being stung some ; and there are few whom it hurts so seriously 
to be stung, that it is not wise in them to engage in bee 
culture, at least without being well protected by a bee- 
dress. “I presume that the man who can close hi? mouth on 
a handful of bees, or swarm a colony on his face, can han- 
dle bees with impunity.” No, there is but little difference in 
people’s liability to be stung. There is much in the motions 
and manner of approaching bees: but a colony once enraged 
will master the most skillful. The taking of a box of honey 
unskillfully, or carelessly leaning a hive to one side, will oc- 
casion more stinging than the most heroic feats in handling 
bees, when practised with a little judgment. It is easier to 
control a whole colony intelligently, than a single bee ig- 
norantly. Stinging is instinctive and necessary to these lit- 
tle creatures, as it is a protection against their enemies, and 
the indiscriminate handling of their keepers. It would not 
do at all to have bees that would not sting. But, surely any 
one with a knowledge of the condition under which bees do 
sting, and some practised skill in their management, will be 
able to perform all necessary operations with biit little 
danger. 
It is not right to suppose that bees are always on the alert 
for an opportunity to sting. They sting in defence of the 
home and life of the colony. In stinging the bee loses its 
stinger and with itits life. While away from home or collecting 
honey from ilowcrs, bees do not voluntarily sting. Bees that- 
