How to Grow Queens

How to Grow Queens by Walter T. Kelley is a comprehensive guide on queen bee rearing. The book provides detailed instructions on the process of growing queens from selecting breeding queens to setting up a grafting yard. Kelley shares his expertise gained over 25 years of experience in queen rearing offering valuable insights and tips for successful queen production. The book covers fundamental aspects of the queen rearing system such as the role of nurse bees feeding techniques and the use of swarm boxes. Kelley also emphasizes the importance of selecting a breeding queen based on productivity temperament and color. The book delves into the logistics of setting up a grafting yard including the number of colonies required and the layout of the yard. Kelley provides practical advice on preparing cell bars grafting needles and queen mating hives. The book also touches on the significance of maintaining a queen mating yard with pure Italian drones for ensuring purely-mated queens. Kelley's expertise shines through in his recommendations for caging queens and managing queen cells in the mating nuclei. Additionally the book introduces Modern Beekeeping a beekeeping magazine edited by Kelley that offers valuable insights and innovations in the beekeeping industry. Overall How to Grow Queens is a valuable resource for beekeepers looking to enhance their queen rearing skills and improve their beekeeping practices.