Forming Nuclet. 237 
breadth and thickness, and made to contain from four to 
six frames of corresponding size. These frames are filled 
with comb. I have for several years used the first named 
style of nucleus hive, and have found it advantageous to 
have a few long hives made, each to contain five chambers; 
while each chamber is entirely separate from the one next 
to it, is five inches wide, and is covered by a separate, close- 
fitting board, and the whole by a common cover. The 
entrances to the two end chambers are at the ends near the 
-same side of the hive. The middle chamber has its entrance 
at the middle of the side near which are the end entrances, 
while the other two chambers open on the opposite side, 
as far apart as is possible. The outside might be painted 
different colors to correspond with the divisions, if thought 
necessary, especially on the side with two openings. Yet 
I have never taken this precaution, nor have I been troubled 
much by losing queens. They have almost invariably 
entered their own apartments when returning from their 
wedding tour. It seems from experience that the queen 
is more influenced by position than by color of hive in 
returning to it from mating. Who that has watched his 
bees after moving a hive a little one side of its previous 
position—even if only a few inches—-can doubt but that 
the same is true of the worker-bees. These hives I use to 
keep queens in during. the summer. Except the apiarist 
engage in queen-rearing extensively as a business, I doubt 
.the propriety of building such special nucleus hives. The 
usual hives are good property to have in the apiary, will 
soon be needed, and may be economically used for all 
nuclei. In spring I make use of my hives which are pre- 
pared for prospective summer use, for my nuclei. 
Mr. E. M. Hayhurst, one of our best queen breeders, 
uses the full size Langstroth frame, in full sized hives, for 
. queen-rearing, while Mr. Root uses the same frames in 
small special hives which hold three frames. These (Fig. 
85) he fastens high up on his grape-vine trellises, just back 
of his other hives, which can be used for seats as he works 
with the nuclei. 
We now go to different hives of the apiary, and take 
out three frames for each nucleus, at least one of which 
