NUCLEUS SWARMING. 
65 
THE NUCLEUS SYSTEM OF SWARMING. 
“ The introduction of a mature fertile queen to a colony two 
weeks sooner than when they swarm naturally , is an advantayc 
sufficient to pay for extra trouble. The time yarned in breeding 
is equivalent to a swarm." — M. Quinby. 
In swarming bees on this system, we first rear a queen in a 
small cluster — nucleus — of bees, allowing the nucleus hive to 
remain in its place until the queen becomes fertile, when we 
swarm the bees by simply causing the two hives to exchange 
places. Unlike natural swarming, the old queen remains in the 
parent stock, and its labors go on scarcely interrupted. The 
system i3 based upon the well known law, that bees, after 
luxuriating upon the flowers, will return to the exact spot of 
their old habitation. 
Form a nucleus from an Italian or other populous stock by 
blowing a few whiffs of smoke into the entrance, and opening 
the hive, select a frame of comb containing capped brood, but 
especialy plenty of eggs and young larva. After looking this 
over carefully, lest the old queen be removed, place it with its 
adhering bees in the empty hive, and next to it another comb 
containing honey, which will afford protection to the brood and 
food for the bees. As many of the old bees will return to the 
parent stock, give the nucleus hive at least a quart of bees and 
set it on a new stand two or three rods distant. Contract the en- 
trance so that but one or two bees can pass at the same time, and 
sot a feed pan on the frames, or a sponge filled with sweetened 
water will supply their wants until the young bees go to work 
