REARING IMPROVED RACES. 269 
The best manner to add young bees from strange colo- 
nies to weak nuclei, is to shake or brush them, on the apron 
board in front of the entrance, as is done in swarm- 
ing (428). 
525. Hives, or nuclei in which queen-cells are to be in- 
troduced, should be aware of their queenless condition be- 
fore a queen-cell is given them. Hence the necessity of 
preparing them 24 hours previous. 
526. A vigilant eye should be kept upon every colony 
that has not an impregnated queen; and when its queen is 
about a week old it should be examined, and if she has be- 
come fertile, she will usually be found supplying one of the 
central combs with eggs. If neither queen nor eggs can be 
found, and there are no certain indications that she is lost, 
the hive should be examined a few days later, for some 
queens are longer in becoming impregnated than others, 
and it is often difficult to find an unimpregnated one, on ac- 
count of her adroit way of hiding among the bees. 
As soon as the young queen lays, she may be introduced 
to a queenless colony, or sold, and if queen-cells are kept 
on hand, another one can be given to the nucleus the next 
day. Thus, nuclei may be made to raise two queens or 
more in a month. 
527. If the queens are to be multiplied rapidly, the 
nuclei must never be allowed to become too much reduced 
in numbers, or to be destitute of brood or honey. With 
these precautions, the oftener their queen is taken from 
them, the more intent they will usually become in supplying 
her loss. 
There is one tr:it in the character of bees which is wor- 
thy of profound respect. Such is their indomitable energy 
and perseverance, that under circumstances apparently 
hopeless, they labor.to the utmost to retrieve their losses, 
and sustain the sinking State. So long as they have a 
queen, or any prospect of raising one, they struggle vigor- 
