NUCLEI. 267 
more advantageous than one large frame, as they give 
more compactness to the cluster. Besides, these small 
colonies can be built up easily afterwards by coupling the 
frames, and uniting the combs of 3 or 4 nuclei into one 
large hive. 
It is not necessary to have many of these frames in an Api- 
ary, as a few are sufficient to make a number of nuclei, if 
they are placed in the centre of full colonies early in Spring. 
(Fig. 93.) 
DIVISIBLE FRAME. 
Two frames thus made from one standard Langstroth 
frame measure about 8} by 84 inches each, a very conven- 
ient size for nucleus frames. 
In the Fall, a number of nuclei may be united, in a full 
sized hive, on their own combs, by this method. 
522. To make a nucleus, take from a colony, as late in 
the afternoon as there is light enough to do it, a comb con- 
taining worker-eggs, and bees just gnawing out of their cells, 
and put it, with the mature bees that are on it, into an 
empty hive. If there are not bees enough adhering to it, 
to prevent the brood from being chilled during the night, . 
more must be shaken into the hive from other combs. If 
the transfer is made so late in the day that the bees are not 
disposed to leave the hive, enough may have hatched, by 
