356 MONTHLY MANAGEMENT. 



The remaining queen cells can be used to supply 

 any colony that is destitute, or any new colony that 

 may now be formed. 



Much of the brood in weak hives is lost by cold, 

 wherefore no time should be lost in strengthening 

 such so that they may rapidly increase without wait- 

 ing for warm weather. There is sometimes difficulty 

 in supplying small colonies with brood comb so as to 

 have it exactly adjoining that which they already 

 have. 



To remedy this, take from the weak hive a comb or 

 combs containing brood ; brush off all the bees before 

 removing it ; then from a hive known to have a large 

 quantity of brood, take one or two combs of mature 

 brood, (according to the quantity of bees in the weak 

 hive to cover the same) and brushing off all the bees, 

 place in the weak hive whence the others have been 

 removed, being sure to place store combs adjoining. 

 Then cover the whole carefully with a cloth, to retain 

 the animal heat. 



Now give to the strong hive the combs taken from 

 the weak one, and the exchange (being no robbery) 

 will essentially aid the weak without danger to the 

 other. This plan of exchanging combs is efficient, 

 and may be practiced with equal success throughout 

 the breeding season. 



Each weak colony may be strengthened at any 

 time by adding a single comb of mature brood, which 

 is preferable to adding bees, unless they are young 

 ones, and separated from the old as directed in Chap- 

 ter XVII. 



