QUEEN-REARING 
691 
The question might be raised right here, 
“Why not make these upper stories start 
as well as complete the cells?” For the 
simple reason that they will not start work 
of this sort except under the most favorable 
conditions; and the average queen-breeder 
has decided it does not pay to try to make 
the attempt. There should be one colony 
G, fully completed cell from holder; H, partially 
built cell torn away to get at the royal jelly. 
to start the cells and another' to complete 
them after they are accepted in another 
colony. 
After the first batch of 15 grafted cups 
have been accepted and removed, another 
batch of 15 may be given, and so on the 
process can be repeated. But such cell- 
starting colonies should not be kept for 
such purpose more than three weeks, on 
account of the danger of laying workers. 
See Laying Workers. 
In eight days after giving the first batch 
of grafted cells, it will be necessary to go 
over the combs very carefully and destroy 
any natural cells of their own; for if these 
are left in the hive the bees will do no work 
on the second batch of cells. In the mean¬ 
time a virgin would emerge and trouble hap¬ 
pen. Even after the first batch of natural 
cells are cut out, it is advisable to go over 
the combs again in eight days, because a 
colony like this may steal an egg or two 
from some other colony. 
Another excellent cell-building colony 
outside of the swarming season is one hav¬ 
ing a queen which it is trying to super¬ 
sede. One or more such colonies will be 
found in a large apiary, but as a general 
rule the queen is hardly good enough to 
use as a breeder. Having found such a col¬ 
ony, begin giving it daily feeds at once, 
this being a requisite for the best results in 
cell-building with any colony, either with a 
queen or without one. This supersedure 
cell-building colony will not only draw out 
and complete one set of cups but several 
sets in succession; but it is best not to give 
any one such colony more than a dozen or 
a dozen and a half prepared cups at a time. 
Allow it to finish up one batch, and then, if 
necessary, give it another. 
Just how far supersedure bees will con¬ 
tinue to build out batches of cells, one after 
another, is not known; but if they are 
fed half a pint of syrup daily they appear 
to be willing to keep up the work indefi¬ 
nitely, in the hope that they will some day 
be able to rear a virgin that will supplant 
the old queen that appears to be failing. 
THE FORCED-CELL-STARTING COLONY. 
There is still another plan used by queen- 
breeders to get cells accepted or started in 
a more wholesale way; and that is, make 
up a forced-cell-starting colony. This is 
done by making a strong colony queenless 
and broodless. The combs are taken out 
one by one, and shaken in front of the 
entrance. When combs are cleaned of bees 
it will be very easy to see any eggs. Combs 
haying honey only are set back in the hive, 
and with them two division-board feeders. 
One is placed on each side and half filled 
with syrup; and an hour or two after the 
bees have been made queenless and brood¬ 
less they will set up a roar; for without 
any brood or any possibility of producing 
it, they are in dire distress, and in just the 
right condition, psychologically, to rush 
upon grafted cups that may be given them. 
