139 
As soon as the queen is hatched in any nucleus, ex- 
change one of its combs with comb containing unsea/ai 
brood ; this will not only strengthen the nucleus, but 
will induce the bees to remain on the comb, while the 
queen leaves the hive for the purpose of meeting the 
drones; without it, the bees occasionally swarm out 
with the queen, and are lost unless seen. 
The queen-cells constructed from time to time in the 
queenless stocks, must be transferred in ten days after 
inserting the comb from the pure stock. If any stock 
becomes reduced in population, another strong colony 
may be employed in starting queen-cells, and its queen 
given to the reduced colony ; or, the weakened colony 
may be strengthened by exchanging a few of its empty 
combs for combs containing bees just hatching ; in this 
case, the combs should be examined five days after, as 
queen-cells may be constructed from the combs last 
added, and if they are found they should all be cut out. 
The presence of eggs in the brood-combs of any nu- 
cleus indicates that the queen has become fertile, but her 
purity of impregnation should be tested before sending 
her to the purchaser. 
FERTILIZING OF QUEENS IN CONFINEMENT. 
“The queen and drone must be on the wing, or they will never 
mate.” — L. C. Waite. 
That queens can be fertilized in confinement has been 
