25'J FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 



raistic in some things, and one August she expressed her belief 

 that a nucleus of (wo frames with a laying queen would be able 

 without any assistance, if started on that date, Aug. 6, to build 

 up into a colony strong enough to winter. I said that would be 

 asking too much, and we would put the matter to the test. So 

 two frames of brood with adhering bees were put in a hive on 

 a new stand, and (wo days later a laying queen was given. The 

 two frames of brood v^ere rather better than the average, for I 

 wanted her to see that even with an extra chance it was too late 

 in the season for any such gTowth. 1 don't know whether che 

 wntehed that colony on the .sly or not, but I did. Looking at it 

 every few days, I could see no gain — if anything it grew weak- 

 er. Then I thought I could see a little gain, and in twelve days 

 from the time it was started the two frames" of brood had in- 

 creased to two and a half. Five days later there were three 

 brood, and from that on it walked right along to a fair colony, 

 although it had to be fed up for winter. But I would not want 

 to count on starting for a full colony so late as that in all sea- 

 sons, especially if the frames of biuod were not the veiy best. 



INC'IJKASE WITHOUT NUULEI. 



Tliese different ways are all on the nucleus plan. Just one 

 more way I want to mention, and it is not on the nucleus plan, 

 but if queens ai-e on hand I think I like it as well as any. We 

 take four colonies, and the first thinj; is to liave all four strong 

 before anything is done. Then we take an empty hive-body 

 without any bottom-board, and into it we put two frames of 

 brood witlMut any bees from the lir^l line (a few l)ees will do no 

 harm), the same from the secdiid, and the same from the third, 

 filling out the hive with two empty combs or combs with some 

 honey. In the middle of the hive is a provisioned introdueing- 

 cage containing a laying queen. Upon (he fourth hive we put 

 a queen-excluder, and on this we set our hive full of brood, and 

 cover it up. Very soon bees enough will go uj) through the ex- 

 cluder to take care of the brood. Three or four hours later, or 

 twenty-four hours later if more convenient, this hi\'e is set 

 upon a bottom-board on a new stand, and the work is all done. 

 A way tlia( is easier, and nearly as good, is to set the hive with 

 the six brood immediately in jilace of the fourth hive, setting 



