Page:How to Keep Bees.djvu/204

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
162
HOW TO KEEP BEES

and unless a moist candy is used, she will suffer for lack of water.

Home-made cages are usually employed in introducing queens from the home apiary. These are of various forms and devices, the Miller being a favourite. His materials are as follows: One block of wood 3 x 1¼ x ⅜ in.; two blocks of wood 1 x 7-16 x ⅜ in.; two pieces of tin 1 in. square; two pieces of fine wire 9 in. long; one piece of wire-cloth 4½ x 3½ in.; four wire nails ½ in. long. (Plate V.)

The illustration shows how the material is used. The space between the two small blocks of wood, held in place by the pieces of tin forms a door for the candy. The large piece of wood serves as a plug at the other end of the cage, which may be removed, and the cage set down over the queen, thus capturing her without handling her. When a queen is placed in a cage she should always be allowed to climb up into it. It is not natural for her to climb down.

THE NUCLEUS METHOD

This method of introducing very valuable queens is said by experts to be absolutely safe. It is accomplished by making a nucleus of two or three frames of brood, which is sealed and some of it just breaking through the cell caps. Not an adult bee is permitted to remain, and there should be as few uncapped larvæ as possible, since such will starve. The queen is placed on these combs and the young bees, as they issue innocent of men's scheming, accept her as their legitimate mother, and a colony is soon