Pipe for burning tobacco 41 Queen-cell frame, description of 38 Queen-cells, transferring 40 Queens, how to care for 49 Queens, age at which they mate 49 Queens, virgin, forcing to mate 50 Queens, age at which they lay 51 Queens, to know fertile from unfertile 50 Queens, fertilizing in confinement 51 Queens, respect bees show them 51 Queen-cells, destroying 51 Queens, comparative size 53 Queen-rearing, first improvements 11 Queen-rearing, latest improved methods 12 Queen-rearing, on a large scale 14 Queen-rearing, proper conditions of apiary 15 Queen-rearing, to prepare eggs for 16 Queen-breeding colony, how to start 19 Queen-breeding hive, how to make 17 Queens, fertile, how to introduce 34 Queens, unfertile, how to introduce 35 Queen nursery, how to use 29 Queenless bees, necessity of 28 IMPROVED QUEEN-REARING OR How to Rear Large, Prolific and Long-Lived Queen Bees INTRODUCTION In the year 1857 I had very little knowledge of apiculture, yet I had seen bees in hives apparently working, “making honey” as it was called in those days by all who kept bees; had heard all the talk about the “king bee,” and had seen hives draped in mourning when a member of the bee-keepers’ family died. I had also seen the bee-keeper and his family out in the apiary pounding upon tin pans, ringing the dinner bell, and raising a hub-bub generally when a colony had cast a swarm. Then I had seen bees “carry wax” on their legs, etc., etc. Well, I did not require very much experience with bees to find out that all the above performances were indulged in only by ignorant and superstitious bee-keepers. With all the literature we now have concerning apiculture, some bee-keepers may be found who know no more about bees than those who kept them 50 years ago. In the month of July, 1857, I found a fine swarm of bees hanging upon a limb of a tree in my garden. The bees were hived in a small packing box, and at once commenced to build comb and store honey. When fall came the box was well filled with bees and stores, and the colony went into winter quarters in fine condition, and came out in the spring strong in numbers, proving to be a first-class colony in all respects.