NUCLEI 275 



524. Beginners must remember that it is better to have 

 these small nuclei strong with bees; but, in giving them 

 young bees, care should be taken not to give them the queen. 

 If a nucleus is made at mid-day, nearly all the bees given 

 to it will be young bees, as the old bees are then in the field.* 



The best manner to add young bees from strange colonies 

 to weak nuclei, is to shake or brush them, on the apron board 

 in front of the entrance, as is done in swarming (428). f 



525. Hives, or nuclei in which queen-cells are to be in- 

 troduced, should be aware of their queenless condition before 

 a queen-cell is given them. Hence the necessity of preparing 

 them 24 hours previous. 



526. A vigilant eye should be kept upon every colony 

 that has not an impregnated queen; and when its queen is 

 about a week old it should be examined, and if she has be- 

 come fertile, she will usually be found supplying one of the 

 central combs with eggs. If neither queen nor eggs can be 

 found, and there are no certain indications that she is lost, 

 the hive should be examined a few days later, for some queens 

 are longer in becoming impregnated than others, and it is often 

 difficult to find an unimpregnated one, on accoimt of her adroit 

 way of hiding among the bees. 



As soon as the young queen lays, she may be introduced 

 to a queenless colony, or sold, and if queen-cells are kept 

 on hand, another -one can be given to the nucleus the next 

 day. Thus, nuclei may be made to raise two queens or more 

 in a month. 



527. If the queens are to be multiplied rapidly, the 

 nuclei must never be allowed to become too much reduced 

 in numbers, or to be destitute of brood or honey. With 

 these precautions, the oftener their queen is taken from them, 

 the more intent they will usually become in supplying her loss. 



* Some apiarists place nuclei in the cellar for a day or two, to ac- 

 custom the bees to their new home. 



■)• If these bees are taken from colonies that have been previously 

 made queenless, they will more readily remain in their new homes, but 

 young bees that have not yet taken flight seldom leave the hive to 

 which they are given, if it has already brood and bees. 



