and its Economic Management. 151 



induce the necessary moisture. The outer casing of wood has 

 a movable lid, not very tight fitting ; but between it and the 

 boiler several folds of flannel are laid, thus permitting a gradual 

 change of air to take place in the cell chamber without loss of 

 heat. A tin plate is placed under the bottom to guard against 

 fire, an opening, of course, corresponding with that in the 

 hollow cylinder. 



Though the time of hatching is delayed under a tempera-, , 

 ture of 85°, I find queens will come out with perfect wings, 

 but I prefer it regulated nearly as possible at 90° rather than 

 95°, so that in case of any accident there may be no danger 

 , resulting from either extreme. When properly managed, no 

 intelligent apiarist will deny that the incubator or lamp 

 nursery gives a more even temperature than can be obtained 

 in the hive. That of the former is almost perfect, while the 

 hive varies considerably, having its entrance always open to 

 the outer air. 



We have provided for the hatching of our queens, and 

 must now prepare for their reception in 



Nuclei. 



These are small hives to hold from three to six frames, the 

 latter being more serviceable for our purpose, as there is room 

 to add fresh combs of brood when necessary. 



It seldom happens that good nuclei can be made up from a 

 stock which at the time has its queen, therefore my own plan 

 is in the first place to make up a nucleus with the queen of the 

 most suitable colony, being one very populous, having a 

 number of combs with hatching brood in each. Place this 

 queen with one frame of brood and bees,.and enough more to 

 cover two other combs, on a new stand. On the third day 

 thereafter make up further nuclei in like manner from the 

 same hive, leaving the younger brood in the original hive, as 

 there will be plenty of bees to take care of the same. Bearing 

 in mind they have already lost their queen and having pre- 



