A Manual of Bee-Keeping (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1879 Excerpt: ...resulting from such a weight moving at a rapid speed." QUEEN CAGES. BEES, on losing or being deprived of their Queen, will not with any certainty accept a stranger without some precaution; on the contrary, will often slay her forthwith; but it is found in practice that if a Queen be confined some twenty-four or more hours amongst the Workers the regicidal tendency abates, and love and reverence succeed to hatred, if the Queen be in a fertile condition. An infertile Queen is not readily accepted, instinct seemingly acquainting the Bees that she is useless. The prudent Bee-master, therefore never introduces a new Ligurian, or other Queen, without ternporarily confining her. In strengthening stocks by the addition of other Bees, it is also advisable to secure the reigning Queen for a day or two as a precautionary measure against the malice of the strangers. For this purpose cages of various patterns are used. The most simple form is that of a coarse wire gauze cup, with a 5-inch tin margin soldered on, as Fig. 52. The Queen, with or without a few of her own Workers, is placed therein, a card slipped underneath to keep her there, and then transferred to the comb where it is desired to fix it. The card being now withdrawn, the cage is gently pressed down with a screwing motion into the comb as far as the bottom of the cell, there to remain the necessary time. It is advisable, if practicable, to tie it there, as the Bees, in their anxiety to get at the new Queen, will sometimes undermine and hoist it up, when the Queen may get out too soon, perhaps meeting an executioner. In fixing this cage, select a comb near the centre of the hive where there is some honey, so that her majesty may have food at hand. This is not absolutely essential, and in straw skeps the...