74 THE BOOK OF BEE-KEEPING. 



Each cell having an egg or larvae in it will be formed by the 

 bees into a queen-cell, as they are just in the position that 

 seems most desired by the bees for that purpose. As there is 

 an egg only in every other one of the cells, there is sufficient 

 space left for the queen-cell to be completed without its being 

 made to adhere to its next neighbour ; it can therefore be cut 

 out without interfering or damaging any of those contiguous to 

 it. The queen-cells are sure to be built on this comb, as bees, 

 when they have the opportunity, always choose a new one for 

 this purpose. There may be one or two cells built on the other 

 combs, and these can be removed when wanted. In ten days, 

 when this comb is removed, a row of queen-cells will be hanging 

 regularly along from the top edge of the holes cut in it ; it will 

 then be time to transfer these to nucleus-hives. 



123. Ifuclens-colonies. — A nucleus-colony, as its name de- 

 notes, is a commencement or small colony of bees, and is formed 

 thus : Having obtained a hive of a size to take three frames — 

 an ordinary hive contracted by its division-board will do — three 

 combs from a populous colony, with the adhering bees, are 

 placed in it, the greatest care being taken that the queen is 

 not put in with the bees ; it is then covered up, and left for a 

 day. When this time has elapsed, it must be examined to see 

 whether too many of the bees have left to join the old stock ; if 

 so, a frame of bees must be shaken in with the others. It is 

 much the safest plan to do this when the frames are first put 

 in, as there are sure to be some old bees who, when they fly 

 out, will discover their original home, and will thus desert the 

 nucleus. The combs should have both brood and honey in 

 them — the two outside ones honey, and the middle one 

 brood and eggs. It is inadvisable to have brood in the outside 

 of the two side combs, as it is almost sure to get chilled. The 

 nucleus is then ready for the reception of the queen-cells, as 

 by this time the bees will have discovered that they are without 

 a queen. 



The queen-cells must now be cut out of the comb by means 

 of a very thin, sharp knife. By some bee-keepers it is advised 

 to cut a hole in one of the combs of the nucleus and insert 

 the queen-cell in the hole so made ; but this damages the 

 comb. The best plan is to get a cone-shaped piece of wood, 

 using it as a mandril, and wind some No. 20 iron wire round 

 it so as to make a spiral cage of sufficient size to only just 

 contain the cell ; then place the same, with the cell within it, 

 between two bars of the nucleus. The top end of the spiral 

 wire being bent at right angles prevents it from slipping down 

 between the frames. The opening in the thin end of the spiral 

 cage must be i'm. in diameter to allow of the egress of the 

 luture mother from the cell into the hive. Draw the frames 



