Improved Queen-Rearing; or, How to Rear Large, Prolific, Long-Lived Queen Bees / The Result of Nearly Half a Century's Experience in Rearing Queen Bees, Giving the Practical, Every-day Work of the Queen-Rearing Apiary
Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
BY HENRY ALLEY
Apiarist
ILLUSTRATED
Printed for the Author
By Chas. A. King, Beverly, Massachusetts
COPYRIGHT BY THE AUTHOR
1903
Improved Bay State closed-end frame Bee-Hive. Used by thousands of Bee-Keepers many years with great success. Construction of brood-frames same as the Dawzeubaker. Frames are reversible and held in position by side boards and two iron rods.
This little book is written and designed to instruct those engaged in bee-keeping in the art of rearing queen bees. The long experience of the author in this particular branch of apiculture, as herein detailed, may prove not only instructive but interesting. That the work may meet the approbation of its readers is the wish of
THE AUTHOR
Henry Alley
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PREFACE
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
FIRST IMPROVEMENTS IN QUEEN-REARING
NOW LET US DISCUSS SOME OF THE IMPROVED METHODS OF REARING QUEENS
SOME OF THE DISADVANTAGES OF REARING QUEENS BY THE ABOVE PLAN
REARING QUEENS ON A LARGE SCALE
PROPER CONDITION OF THE APIARY WHEN QUEEN-REARING IS COMMENCED
TO PROCURE EGGS FOR CELL-BUILDING; WHERE TO KEEP THE BREEDING-QUEEN
HOW TO START THE QUEEN-BREEDER COLONY
PREPARING A COLONY OF BEES FOR QUEEN-CELL BUILDING
METHOD NUMBER ONE
THE THEORY OF USING YOUNG BEES IN QUEEN-REARING
PREPARING BEES FOR CELL-BUILDING
METHOD NUMBER TWO
METHOD NUMBER THREE
HOW TO REAR THE VERY BEST QUEENS
NECESSITY OF QUEENLESS BEES
FEEDING WHILE QUEEN-REARING IS GOING ON
THE QUEEN NURSERY AND HOW TO USE IT
FORMING NUCLEI
INTRODUCING QUEENS
HOW TO INTRODUCE VIRGIN QUEENS
INTRODUCING FERTILE QUEENS
OBJECTIONABLE DRONES; HOW TO CATCH AND DESTROY
DESCRIPTION OF QUEEN-CELL FRAME
TRANSFERRING CELLS TO NUCLEI OR TO THE QUEEN-NURSERY
DESCRIPTION OF PIPE FOR BURNING TOBACCO
WHAT TO DO WITH SMALL NUCLEI IN THE FALL
TO GET DRONES AND PRESERVE THEM THE ENTIRE SEASON
WHEN, WHAT AND HOW TO FEED NUCLEI
THE DRONE-TRAP IN CONNECTION WITH QUEEN-REARING
BROOM FOR BRUSHING BEES
POINTS IN QUEEN-REARING
TO INSERT A QUEEN-CELL
QUEENS, HOW TO PRESERVE AND CARE FOR THEM
AGE AT WHICH QUEENS MATE
FORCING QUEENS TO MAKE THE MATING FLIGHT AND TO COMMENCE TO LAY PROMPTLY
HOW TO KNOW A FERTILE QUEEN FROM AN UNFERTILE ONE
AGE WHEN YOUNG QUEENS COMMENCE TO LAY AFTER BECOMING FERTILE
FERTILIZING IN CONFINEMENT
RESPECT BEES SHOW THEIR QUEEN
DESTROYING QUEEN-CELLS WHEN INTRODUCING QUEENS
THE OBSERVATORY HIVE FOR STUDYING THE HABITS OF BEES
COMPARATIVE SIZE OF QUEENS
PREVENTING HONEY FROM CANDYING
TO THE READER
THE QUEEN-REARING OUTFIT
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
