BEE MANUAL. 207 



formerly occupied by the nucleus hive, and hang the caged 

 queen between two of the central frames. The old queen 

 with her frame can now be placed in her hive again, and the 

 hive filled with frames of comb or foundation in the place of 

 the frames removed. To prevent too many bees returning to 

 the divided colony, I have often blocked up the entrance with 

 wire cloth — taking care to allow plenty of ventilation — till 

 the evening of the following day, and then liberated both bees 

 and queen, but usually the latter is at liberty before that time 

 with the cage I use. In the course of a few days the surplus 

 boxes can be put on. If less increase is desired, the nucleus 

 colony can be made up by taking frames of brood and bees 

 from two or more old colonies in the same way, instead of 

 from one. It should of course be seen to that each hive is 

 supplied with sufficient food. 



When there are no spare queens or queen cells at hand, a 

 different plan must be adopted. In this case one frame of 

 brood, with the adhering bees and queen, should be taken from 

 the old hive and placed in the new one ; then move the old 

 hive to a new stand, and put the new one in its place. A 

 frame of honey, if it can be spared, without bees, may also 

 be removed from the old hive to the new one, and another 

 taken from some other hive can be put in, and both be filled 

 up with empty combs or foundation. Most of the old bees 

 from the removed hive will return to the old stand, but the 

 young bees left and those gradually maturing will be sufficient 

 to do the necessary work of the hive and raise a queen for 

 themselves. 



Dividing should only be done during fine weather, and great 

 care must be taken to see that the hives are kept snug, and 

 that the brood does not get chilled. Spare queen cells may 

 be utilized in dividing. 



/ 



XIOM. 



" A MODERATE INCREASE OP COLONIES IN ANY ONE SEASON WILL, IN 

 THE LONG RUN, PROVE THE EASIEST, SAFEST, AND CHEAPEST MODE OE 

 MANAGING BEES." 



Langstroth. 



