668 



Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. 



[Sep. 2, 1920.. 



(B in two parts) are pieces of three-ply wood cut as shown in Fig. 4, and 

 fixed to the bottom cross-bar with leather or metal hinges. As the figure 

 indicates, these sides may be closed and fastened with small metal catches. 

 The necessity for the slight tapering from upper to under surface of the top 

 cross-bar will now be obvious ; the lower cross-bar is the narrower of the two, 

 and the tapering of the top cross-bar enables tlie hinged sides to come flat 

 against it. 



Arrived at the stage of construction now pictured, the combining portion 

 only lacks covers and bottom-board for the queen-raising half. Covers in the 

 shape of a piece of board for each compartment may be fixed when the- 

 supplementary structure is embodied with the main hive as illustrated in 

 Fig. 1. In making the bottom board for the queen-raising portion, a 1-inch 

 entrance should be allowed in the corners farthest from the main colony. If 

 necessary, this portion may be supported in some way. 



Fig. 3. — Showing construction cf cDmmunication passage and strips of queen excluder in position.' 



A 



B 



Fig. 4. — Showing method of cutting th? hinged pieces of three-ply wood which form the sides 



cf the communication passage. 



The nucleus colonies are formed in the usual manner, either from the 

 parent colony or from other colonies ; three frames in each nucleus will be 

 sufficient and will give good communication in an eight-frame super. At the 

 beginning it is best to prevent communication. This can be done on the 

 nuclei side, but after the bees settle down to their work the excluder can be 

 exposed and communication given. 



I have tried other methods of giving communication, such as by bare 

 double excluders, and the colonies were supported all right and the cells 

 hatched freely, but the bees were very excited and in most cases balled the 

 young queens. Direct communication, so. far as our tetts when i-aising young 

 queens indicated, should be avoided. 



