425 
The Rearing of Queens 
taking food they should be kept in a strong colony so that 
they will be abundantly fed. If there is no honey-flow, it is 
necessary to give the colony some sugar syrup or honey 
daily to keep it in prime condition. The cells will be well 
cared for in strong queenless colonies, but to keep colonies 
queenless so long is expensive. It is a well recognized fact 
that if a colony is divided by perforated zinc, the portion 
away from the queen is in condition to build and care for 
queen cells and may be considered as virtually queenless. 
Nursery cages. 
Before the queens are ready to emerge, about ten days 
from the time of transferring the larvae, each cell may be put 
in some sort of nursery cage 
(Fig. 187), so that as the queens 
emerge they will not kill each 
other or destroy other cells. 
As a rule individual cages for 
each queen cell are best. If 
colonies are ready to receive 
them the best method is to 
put each queen cell in a colony 
so that there will be no neces¬ 
sity for introducing adult 
queens. 
Mating hives. 
In case it is desired to have 
the queens mated before intro¬ 
ducing them to full colonies 
or if queens are being raised 
for sale, the queen cells or 
virgin queens (as most con¬ 
venient) may be put in small 
colonies, usually known as nuclei. Two types of mating 
boxes are illustrated (Figs. 188 and 189), but it is usually 
most satisfactory not to use too small a mating box, 
Fig. 189. — “ Baby nucleus ” hive 
devised by Pratt. An introduc¬ 
ing cage is in place between the 
frames. 
