I i / Impregnation of queen - Dec. 27, 1866 - Received today a letter
from my friend Dr. Ehrich Parmely of New York an interesting
letter on the artificial impregnation of Queen - Dec. 24th 1866 - I
have thought that it might be possible to impregnate the eggs of a
drone laying queen or even fertilize a virgin queen by injecting
the sperm of the male through a very small tube such
as are used in microscopic injections which are less
in diameter than the base of the penis of the drone. Eggs
laid immediately after might be impregnated which
could be tested within six days. If this could be done
it would be a great advance - It has been done with the
dog, so I am inclined to think that with the bee it is only a
question of skill. If I live I will give this question a fair
trial next summer. My present idea of operating is
to confine the queen in a slight excavation on a piece of cork
and bind her down with strings fastened with pins. This could
be done without injury if [illegible] handled. 
This letter very suggestive. Have little faith in any permanent
impregnation of a virgin queen - Should select a fertile drone laying queen
in colony where all things favorable - giving her comb with workers just
hatched and hatching - it is such combs queens lay surest - My
being now fairly upon this matter success seems more possible. Dr. P. 
says - I have thought that a queen might be confined in a room with
drones or in a large box with glass at both ends and that by [illegible]
admitting light at the ends the queen and drones might come together
in flight but I have more confidence in the first plan - viz - injection plan
Now I have a plan which appears to me to be more favorable than any
yet suggested. Have a room large and high enough for bees queen and drones
to fly very briskly - glass at one end (possibly tent might answer) have colony full
of drones - Keep nuclei with queen to be impregnated here - generally let bees fly
at will - drones will get accustomed to it - Put in nuclei with queen