FIFTY YEAES AMONG THE BEES 231 



MORE THAN ONE NUCLEUS IN HIVE. 



The frames for nuclei are the regular full-sized frames, 

 and a full hive may be used for each nucleus, but it is economy 

 to have the hive divided up into two or three compartments for 

 as many nuclei. Three nuclei in one hive are mutually helpful 

 in keeping up the heat, and thus it is possible to have the nuclei 

 weaker than if each nucleus were by itself, while results are as 

 good with the three weaker nuclei in the one hive as with three 

 stronger nuclei in three separate hives. 



NUCLEUS-HIVE. 



For many years I have had hives divided into two or .more 

 compartments, and have had much trouble from the bees find- 

 ing a passage from one compartment to another, but my latest 

 nucleus hives have not troubled in that way. They are made 

 from ordinary 8-frame hives together with the 2-inch-deep bot- 

 tom-board. First, two pieces are nailed on the inside of the 

 bottom-board, each piece 18^xl%x%. One piece nailed 4% 

 inches from one side, the other 4% inches from the other side. 

 These pieces do not lie flat in the oottom, but stand on edge, 

 with 1% inches between them. Then the hive is fastened on 

 the bottom-board with the four usual staples. Two division- 

 boards, each 18%x9%x5-16, are now put in place and crowded 

 down tight upon the two pieces in the bottom-board. These 

 two division-boards are 4% inches from each side, leaving 2% 

 inches between them. The four spaces at the top, at the ends 

 of the division-boards, are closed by blocks %xi/2x5-16, whit-, 

 tied enough to allow them to be wedged into place. Light 1%- 

 inch wire nails are driven through from the outside to hold the 

 division-boards in place. A block 10x2x% is pushed into the 

 entrance centrally, and held there by a nail lightly driven in 

 front of it. That leaves an entrance at each end of the block 

 for the two side compartments, but no entrance for the middle 

 compartment. For this purpose an inch hole is bored in the 

 back end of the hive midway between the two corners, its center 

 being about three inches from the upper surface of the hive. 

 Three boards of half-inch stuff cover the three compartments, 

 and over this is an ordinary hive-cover. 



