QUEEN-REARING IN ENGLAND. 33 



grown somewhat idle and forgetful of their old location, and, 

 therefore do not readily return to it. 



Unfortunately, colonies in these conditions are not often 

 available, but almost as good results may be got by using 

 combs of brood that have been placed in queen-excluded 

 supers ten to fifteen days before the nuclei are f orrned, with the 

 adhering bees.*t In a well-stocked queen-rearing apiary, this 

 is, indeed, the way in which the majority of the nuclei should 

 be formed. It is a good plan to follow for discouraging 

 swarming, two or three combs of brood being taken out of 

 the brood chamber and empty combs supplied in their place. 



When nuclei axe wanted and no previous provision has 

 been made for forming them, they may be made by shaking 

 the bees off three or four of the brood combs of an ordinary 

 colony, and supplying them with combs of honey, care being 

 taken to see that the queen is not included. It is not wise 

 to mix bees from different hives unless honey drops out of 

 the combs, for if there is no honey flow they may fight and 

 kill one another in large nimibers. 



As soon as the bees and combs have been placed in the 

 hive a quilt is put on top and the entrance is stuffed witn 

 grass to prevent the bees from escaping. The two remaining 

 compartments of the hive are then stocked in the same way. 

 The quilts covering the frames are of thin sacking, obtained 

 by cutting up old American flour bags, and with the grass 

 in the entrance they supply the requisite ventilation. The 

 quilts are held down with a rack — an ordinary section rack 

 does very well. Special care is taken to prevent the con- 

 fined bees from getting overheated and thus stifled, the hive 

 being shaded from sunshine and, if the temperature is above 

 70 degrees, or there is no wind, fewer bees are placed in it. 

 If the quilts get thoroughly wet over the spaces between 

 the frames — a little moisture does not matter — it is a sign 

 that the bees are getting overheated and some should be let 

 out. 



About 5 p.m. the hive is rapped so as to cause a great 

 humming and the emission of the alluring scent (see page 



• The queens may be reared in these supers. See page 19. 

 t There should be plenty of bees in the super when the brood is put 

 in. or much of the young brood will be destroyed. 



D 



