314 A Modern Bee-Farin 



and carried to the scales, and the weight marked upon 

 the label. If they have to go a long journey, either place 

 a feeding bottle over the zinc until starting or see that a 

 frame with sufficient sealed stores is fixed in before the 

 swarm is hived ; the weight of such comb and the box to 

 be noted, and presently deducted from the gross weight. 



Where a definite quantity is ordered, the scales are to 

 be carried to the hive by any convenient arrangement that 

 provides correct balance ; take the weight of the package, 

 and if the opening is not wide enough to admit a comb 

 end-way, use a funnel lined with zinc. Now make sure of 

 the queen and then shake from the combs the necessary 

 quantity of bees, and insert the queen last of all ; close at 

 once and pack for the journey. 



They are to be first smoked in the usual way, and all 

 the time they do not miss the queen, the bulk of the bees 

 shot into the box will remain simply clustering on the 

 sides. The operation should take place early in the 

 morning or towards evening as the bees are more restful, 

 and they can be put up in less time as there are more at 

 home. Give food if necessary as before. 



1 consider the most satisfactory way and the more pro- 

 fitable to the purchaser when wishing to establish a stock 

 of any new variety is to get them in 



Three-frame Nuclei ; 



but I do not mean such as are often sent out, and as some 

 I have myself received from abroad with not enough bees 

 to cover one of the frames ; but such as can be built up 

 vdth little trouble by the receiver. 



To make up a fair nucleus of three frames, take from a 

 ■strong hive all the bees from one comb, and one comb full 

 of brood where young bees are rapidly coming forth, with 

 all the bees thereon. Place the brood comb at the centre 



