THOUSAND ANSWERS 159 



continued through the winter it is very likely there would be 

 more or less loss of queens. A safer plan would be to use wire- 

 cloth instead of a queen-excluder, so that there would be no 

 communication between the bees below and above. Of course, an 

 entrance to the outside would have to be allowed to each of the 

 nuclei. If outdoors, these entrances should be very small, and the 

 entrance to the lower colony would need be less than with no 

 entrances above. 



Observation Hive. — Q. I have an observatory hive in which I 

 expect to put bees this spring. How shall I get them started? 



A. There's no trick about it; merely start as you would in any 

 other hive, by putting in the comb of brood with bees and queen. 

 To prevent the bees going back to the old home, set the hive in a 

 dark cellar about four days. 



Q. I have Italians and the "blacks," as I call them. I bought 

 an observation hive for one frame and I took out one frame of 

 comb with brood and enough bees to cover the brood well, but 

 the next day the bees came out of the observation hive and into 

 the old hive, and there was not a single bee left. What was the 

 trouble ? 



A. There is nothing unusual in the case. Take a frame of 

 brood with plenty of bees to cover it, and without any precau- 

 tions put it in a new hive, and the proper thing on the part of 

 the bees is to go back to their old home. If you had fastened 

 the bees in for about three days they would have staid. If yoif 

 had taken bees that had been queenless for three days or more, 

 you would have had less trouble. If you had taken the queen 

 with them, returning her after two or three days, more of the 

 bees would have staid. But you probably took them from a hive 

 with a good, strong queen, and they very properly resented such 

 treatment. It is a good plan to remove the queen after a few 

 days, as it gives you the opportunity of watching the rearing of 

 young queens by the bees. 



Q. Do the sides of an observation hive have to be covered 

 with some opaque substance, or will the bees allow the light to 

 penetrate their domicile at all times? 



A. It is usual to keep the hive darkened when not under ob- 

 servation, but not absolutely necessary. The bees will daub 

 more propolis on the glass if the light be continuous. They will 

 also worry more. 



Q What is the best location for an observation hive? Would 

 an attic with a northern exposure be best, or what is the best? 



