FIFTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES 261 



optimistic in some things, and one August she expressed her 

 belief that a nucleus of two frames with a laying queen would 

 be able without any assistance, if started on that date, AugO 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 two days later a laying queen was 

 given. The two frames of brood were rather better than the av- 

 erage, for I wanted her to see that even with an extra cnance it 

 was too late in the season for any such growth. I don't know 

 whether she watched 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 weaker. 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 increased 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 seasons, especially if the frames of brood 

 were not the very best. 



INCREASE WITHOUT NUCLEI. 



These 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 are on hand I think I like it is well as any. We 

 take iour colonies, and the first thing is to have 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 without any bees from the first hive (a few bees will 

 do no harm), the same from the second, 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 

 introducing-eage containing a laying queen. Upon the 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 up 

 through the excluder to take care of the brood. Three or four 

 hours later, or twenty-four hours later if more convenient, 

 this hive is set upon a bottom-board on a new stand, and the 

 work is all done. A way that is easier, and nearly as good. 



