Nc. 6. DEPARTMEiNT OF AGRICULTURE. 385 



lion you might have a nucleus without any queen-cell. Another 

 thing must be considered. A large proportion of the queen-cells 

 are built on the lower or outer edges of the combs. If these were 

 left in the old colony without dividing, they might be all right. 

 But when these combs arc put in nuclei, it is harder for the smaller 

 number of bees to keep them warm, and when a cool night comes, 

 the bees will shrink away from the edge® of the combs, and the 

 ((ueen-cells will be chilled. Ilence, you must see that each nucleus 

 ha? at least two or three good queen-cells where they will be sure to 

 be inside of the cluster of bees in the coolest nights. 



So you will cut away cells from the edges of the combs and from 

 combs that have them to spare, and fasten them where deisired. To 

 cut out the cells, you may use a pocket knife with a sharp, thin blade 

 that is more than an inch long. You need not cut away more 

 than enough to get all the cell; but be sure you do not cut into the 

 cell. Be sure you do not let one of the cells fall, for, while the 

 young and tender queen is in the cell, a fall may cause a defective 

 wing or leg. A defective leg would not necessarily destroy the 

 usefulness of a queen, but a young queen with a wing so poor that 

 she cannot fly is utterly worthless, for she must be able to fly until 

 after she has made her wedding trip. 



To fasten a queen-cell where you want it, use a long pin, or a 

 slender wire nail an inch and a fourth or an inch and a half long. 

 Push the nail through the base of the cell, but be sure it does not 

 enter the cavity of the cell. Nail the cell right over some of the 

 brood, for it will be more surely taken care of there than if separate 

 from the brood. You will find that the bees build queen-cells with the 

 point hanging downward, but it is not important that you should have 

 them in exactly the same position. A cell will do just as well if lying 

 on its side, and possibly as well if upside down. Still better than 

 a nail to pin on a cell, is a staple such as a tobacco staple, the 

 staple being an inch or more wide, with legs an inch long, although 

 legs three-fourths of an inch long will answer. Lay the cell against 

 the comb, put the staple over it so the cell will be at one side of the 

 staple, and then sink into the comb the staple point that is farthest 

 from the cell. 



Possibly you may be inclined to think that because only one queen 

 is to be reared in a nucleus, there is no need to have more than 

 one queen-cell. That would be a mistake. While most of the cells 

 reared by a colony preparing to swarm may be of the very best that 

 colony can rear, it is not safe to assume that all are equally good. 

 Some cells may contain poor queens, and some cells may contain 

 nothing but a dead larva. So it is wise to have a number of cells 

 in a nucleus — at least two or three. The bees will be likely to use 

 the beist. You will be able to see a difference in the appearance of 

 25—6—1901 



