HOW TO GET THE BEES 81 



hive should be contracted to as small an 

 opening as will allow only one or two 

 bees to pass out at a time. Under such 

 conditions even a very weak colony can 

 defend itself against intruders from 

 other neighborhoods — and bees will some- 

 times fly considerable distance to steal 

 from weak estates. There is no self- 

 determination among the small nations of 

 the bee world. It's a case of the survival 

 of the fittest every time. 



The nucleus should be considered sim- 

 ply as a very weak colony of bees for that 

 is what it really is. It must be given pro- 

 tection and food in order that it may in- 

 crease in numbers as rapidly as possible. 

 It is best to place the frames of the nu- 

 cleus in the middle of the hive body with 

 an equal number of frames fitted with 

 sheets of foundation on each side of the 

 bees. In this way they will be encouraged 

 to draw out their combs equally on both 

 sides of the brood nest. 



They should be fed all the sugar sirup 



