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 he 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 multiphed 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 trait 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- 



