140 QUEENS. 
five cells are built in a cluster, the one in the center and 
two on the outside can only be saved by cutting through 
the two others. During these operations, it is necessary 
to handle the combs with great care, keeping them in the 
same position as when in the hive, that the queens may 
receive no injury. 
FORMING NUCLEI. 
If the queens are to be used for new swarms, arrange 
the requisite number of hives in the different positions in 
the apiary, that you wish the swarms to occupy. It is 
my practice to purchase native bees in box hives at this 
time, and transfer the combs and bees to such hives (as 
directed in Chap. VII., on Transferring), giving each 
nucleus one comb containing brood, and about one quart 
of bees. From a good box hive I form from six to eight 
nuclei. Also, I sometimes bring a colony already in mov- 
able frames, from another apiary, and divide it in about 
the same number of parts. In either case, the queen is 
removed, and used where one is desired. These begs will 
usually remain more contentedly if they are confined to 
the nucleus for the first twenty-four hours. 
Another practical method is to open a hive in the same 
apiary, and after securing the queen, remove from it a 
card containing brood as fully developed as can be deter- 
mined by the looks. Place this in one of the nucleus 
hives prepared, with a close fitting division board at each 
side, if a hanging frame is used, or the panels with the 
standing frame.* 
Now, remove three or four other combs from the same 
hive, and after giving them a sudden shake in front of 
their own hive, to dislodge the old bees, take them to the 
nucleus, and brush all the young bees that cling to them, 
into it. This will usually furnish a sufficient supply of 
* These division boards or panels should be used in all nuclei formed in large 
hives, to economize the heat. 
