QUEENS. 141 



bees for a nucleus. Return these last combs to tlieir own 

 hive, supply tlie place of the one removed with a fi'ame of 

 foundation or comb, and return the queen. This method 

 will be advisable where but one or more stocks are kept. 

 In this case it would not be necessary to prepare a swai-m 

 from which to take cells. The nucleus swarm may be 

 allowed to construct cells, the best of which may be se- 

 lected. Proceed as above, with other good hives, until 

 the desired number is obtained. The second day after 

 these are formed, the cells in the hive in waiting will be 

 ten days old, aud the most advanced be liable to hatch. 

 If only eggs had been furnished, from which these queens 

 were to be reared, they would not mature under sixteen 

 days from the time the egg was laid. On the evening 

 previous, or on the morning of the tenth day at the latest; 

 remove the cells with a very sharp small-bladed knife, and 

 place them in a box for the purpose, always handling 

 them with extreme care (see fig. C6J). If any one of 

 these queens is allowed to hatch before they are cared for, 

 she will be likely to destroy all the 

 rest. This she accomplishes by 

 biting into the side of the cell and 

 stinging her helpless rival (see fig. 

 66d). The box should contain a _"* 

 portion of cotton or wool, to make 

 it soft (fig. 61). If a laying queen ^'=- 6i-<J^^™-«^ "o^ 

 is at hand, she may be introduced to this stock. Now, 

 distribute the queen-cells among the nuclei, being sure 

 to place them near the cluster of bees, where they will 

 be protected. 



I sometimes add another empty comb to the nucleus, 

 ftnd merely place the queen-cell between the two, where 

 it will occiipy a natural position. At other times I simply 

 make a hole through the comb, large enough to receive 

 the cell, with the lower end slanting downward. I have 

 Bometimes introduced the cells to the nuclei as soon as the 



