224 FIFTY YEAES AMONG THE BEES 



some means must be taken to make sure that no nucleus has for 

 its sole dependence one of these latest cells. If several cells 

 can be afforded for each nucleus, there is little danger they will 

 all be bad. Neither is there great danger if a cell is chosen 

 which is large and fine-looking. Perhaps the safer way is to 

 give the queenless colony a frame with eggs and young brood 

 three or four days after the removal of the queen, and then they 

 will not be obliged to use the old larvae of the other comb. 



PLACING QUEEN-CELLS. 



Two or three frames of brood with adhering bees are taken 

 for each nucleus. If one of the frames has a cell or several 

 cells in a good location, well and good. If not, the lack must 

 be supplied. But the cells must be where they will be sure to 

 be well eared for. They must not be on the outer edge of a 

 comb, with the chance to be chilled, neither must they be on tbe 

 outer side of the comb, but on the side of the comb that faces 

 the other comb. Any cells that are not just where they are 

 wanted must be cut out. Tor this purpose I like a tea-knife 

 with a very thin and narrow blade of steel. 



STAPLING CELLS ON COMB. 



A staple, such as is used to fasten a bottom-board to a 

 hive, is used to fasten a cell in place. The cell is placed where 

 it is wanted, then the staple is placed over it, one leg of the 

 staple close to the cell, and the other leg is pushed deep into 

 the comb (Fig. 85). 



MAKING BEES STAY IN NUCLEI. 



Each nucleus is put upon a stand of its own, and the en- 

 trance is plugged up with leaves so that no bee can get out. 

 One of the nuclei, however, is left without having its entrance 

 closed, and this is put in the place of the hive which contains 

 the queen, and the hive with the queen is put back on the old 

 stand from which the queen was first taken. The entrances may 

 be left closed until the shrinking of the leaves allows the bef s 

 to make their way out, but I generally open them in about 

 twenty-four hours, first pounding on the hive to make the bees 



