FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 251 



there being twenty frames in all. Sixteen of these, or two hives 

 full, were taken for 237, the other four were used to strengthen 

 some of the nuclei. Not the weakest nuclei were strengthened, 

 but the earliest and strongest, for by being helped these would 

 become strong enough to be helpers in turn. In fact, toward 

 the last of the season, when there was little time for nuclei to 

 gTow up, the earlier nuclei rendered substantial aid to the later 

 ones, at least one of them yielding as many as nine frames of 

 brood. The first nuclei were formed June 21, as already men- 

 tioned ; the last were formed August 23. 



I have gone thus fully into details because I believe this 

 plan can be used successfully by any one who has only a small 

 number of colonies and is desirous of increase. The fiirst nuclei 

 are formed early enough in the season so that they have more 

 than time enough to become strong colonies, and the latest must 

 be formed only in sufficient numbers so that they can be 

 strengthened up as soon as the queen gets to laying. 



NUCLEUS PLAN OF INCREASE. 



With nucleus hives for queen-rearing, as already described, 

 it is easy to carry out the nucleus system in the strictest sense. 

 I go to a nucleus with a laying queen, preferring a nucleus with 

 two or three frames, take all the frames with queen and adher- 

 ing bees, put them in an empty hive, and set the hive on an 

 empty stand. A week later a frame of brood may be added. It 

 will be better if-it can be given with adhering bees, and still bet- 

 ter if the bees can be queenless. Still, there is no great danger 

 to the queen in any case, although the weaker the nucleus when 

 strange bees are given, the greater the danger to the queen. A 

 week later on, two frames of brood and bees may be added, and 

 the queen will be safer if these two frames are taken from two 

 different colonies. The colony will then be strong enough to be 

 left to its own devices. 



NUCLEUS BUILDING UP WITHOUT HELP. 



Indeed, it is not necessary to do anything more than to let 

 a nucleus stand without any help in a fair season, if it can 

 stand long enough. My assistant is inclined to be quite opti- 



