io: 



NUCLEUS SWARMING. 



in their new location. In place of the combs removed from the 

 parent stock, set in empty frames with a full one between. If 

 the frames are put near the centre, the old stock will increase all 

 the faster, as the queen will fill the new comb with eggs as fast 

 as it is built. The removal of the two combs stimulates the 

 bees to great activity by giving them room to work, and detaches 

 just bees enough to prevent their clustering idly about the en- 

 trance. The nucleus will construct queen-cells and rear a queen 

 as well as a whole swarm. Beside, the queen is easily found 

 among so few bees. "We now wait until the tenth or eleventh 

 day, from the time the nucleus was formed, when we open it, 

 and, with a sharp thin bladed pocket-knife, cut out all the queen 

 cells but one, and use them immediately in forming other nuclei, 

 by attaching one of them to a frame of 

 comb and bees taken from an old stock, 

 as before described, and placed in an 

 empty hive. In transferring queen-cells 

 great care must be taken not to press 

 or dent them, or expose them long to 

 the hot sun or cool air for fear of de- 

 stroying the royal occupants. The be- 

 ginner should remove but one at a time, 

 returning the frame from which it ia 

 taken to its place in the hive until the 

 royal cell is adjusted in its new location. 

 "When 'practicable, leave about an inch 

 square of comb attached to the cell, and upon taking the comb 01 

 brood from the old stock, make an opening among the eggs and 



12. Queen-cell Inserted. 



