QUEEN-IiEAliINC4. 



;^55 



(,)UEEN-KEAT{ING. 



FIG. 2.— SCOOPING BEES WITH A SMALL DIPPER INTO BABY NUCLEI. 



After the l)aby nuclei are in full operation 

 we give ripe queen-cells, as shown in Fig. 3, 

 in place of virgins given at first. The two 

 frames are spread a little apartwhen the cell 

 is placed in positic n and secured. 



At the time of forming these baby nuclei, 

 a thick syruj) of about 21 parts of sugar to 

 one of water is poured into the feeder com- 

 partment at one side. At other times, if it 

 is a little cool it is given at night, hot, when 

 it will all be taken up before morning. This 

 feeding may be required off and on during 

 the season. In some years the baby nuclei 

 will gather enough to supply their own needs. 

 At other times they will require a little help. 



These little twin nuclei serve only the pur- 

 pose of mating. ;No cells are reared in them, 

 and the comparatively small number of bees 

 in each compartment makes it easy to find a 

 laying queen or a virgin if present. If in 

 doubt as to whether the nucleus has a vir- 

 gin, another cell is given; and even should 

 the virgin come back from her flight she will 

 take care of that cell by gnawing a liole in 

 its side and killing its occupant. Should she 

 be lost in one of those flights the cell will 

 provide another virgin, which will come on 



in due course of time. It is better to have a 

 surplus of cells than to lose time. 



These baby nuclei have been carefully 

 tested in one of our yards, and have given 

 us good results; but one needs to remember 

 a few things in handling them or he maybe- 

 come disgusted with the whole plan. 



1. If the force becomes a little weak, give 

 a frame of hatching brood; or if this can 

 not be had, after the last queen is taken out 

 dump in a few more bees from a strong col- 

 ony of the main yard. While some of these 

 will go back, many will remain. 



2. After the young queens begin to lay 

 they should be taken out almost immediate- 

 ly, otherwise they will fill the two small 

 combs w ith eggs and lead off a little swarm. 

 If not convenient to take the queen out at 

 once, the perfoiated zinc slide sliould be 

 shoved around to shut her in. 



3. Always make up these little nuclei with 

 bees from some outyard. 



4. Do not allow one side of the nucleus 

 box to become empty of bees. The com- 

 bined heat of the two clusters biings about 

 i\ better state of contentment. Where there 

 is only one compartment of bees in a mat- 



