STOCKING MATING BOXES OR BABY NUCLEI 81 



up the colony again more rapidly. The rest of the space is 

 filled with empty combs. One frame of brood and bees, to- 

 gether with one empty comb or one containing honey, is placed 

 in each nucleus, Figure 33. The entrance is then stopped with 

 grass to prevent the escape of the bees for several hours. By 

 the time they have gnawed their way out they will become 

 accustomed to the new condition, and most of them will remain 

 in the new position. Unless the frame given is well supplied 

 with brood, it is desirable to give two frames to each nucleus. 



A day or two later sealed queen cells may be given safely. 

 As the season advances, the demand for queens increases, and 

 the breeder will find it necessary to increase the number of 

 mating nuclei. As each queen is allowed to lay for a short 

 time in the nucleus before caged for shipment, many of the 

 nuclei will build up rapidly. From time to time one will be 

 found which can spare a frame of brood and bees as already 

 described. At the close of the season these nuclei are united 

 to make them strong enough to winter as full colonies. 



Stocking Mating Boxes or Baby Nuclei. 



Much difficulty is sometimes experienced in getting the 

 bees to stay in these small hives. The plan usually recommended 

 is to shake the bees into a wirecloth cage and confine them 

 there for several hours. Four or five hours later run in a virgin 

 queen among them. At nightfall, shake them into the mating 

 box and leave them undisturbed for a few days. Some of the 

 old bees may return to their former hive the next morning, 

 but most of them are likely to remain. There is some danger 

 that they may swarm out with the queen when she comes 

 out for her mating flight. However, after one queen has been 

 successfully mated and there is some brood in the little hive, 

 there will be less trouble with the next one. These little hives 

 must be watched to make sure that they do not at any time 

 become short of food, otherwise they sometimes swarm out and 

 leave the brood. 



The available space is so small that the queen can be left 



