Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1880-11-11
AJRIIELTTRAA.
Bee Culture.
What Is II Nucleus?

and about pint of bees.
Unless queens ave raised for sale,
The nucleus hive need be nothing
more than the ordinary hive used in
the rapiary, contracted by a division
or partition board, so as to allow only
a chamber large enough for two, three
or four frames. We must have as many
of these hives ready as we have queen
cells. Now, to populate these hives
or nuclei. we 20 to differ 1T hives CT
The apiary for our frames OF 'rood
and for the bees. We must ALWAYS
choose our strongest colonies for that
nurpose. We blow a few whlfts Of
smoke into the entrance of the hive we
intend to take the frames of combs
and bees from for one Of the nuclei,
and open the hive and hunt for the
oueen, AMI when the comb she B on
is found,we place it in little box
that we have for that purpose; an
empty hive will! do as well. This Is
TO be certain that the queen is net
among the bees we put in the nucleus
as this would take the queen from
where she is most needed, and would
lead to the destruction of our queen
cell. After We have found the queen
we take our frame of capped brood
and one containing honey, and place
them with all adhering bees in the
nucleus. As many Of the old bees
that we have placed in the nucleus
will return to the hive they came
from, we shake of into the nucleus
me lees OF two more frames, Sc as to
make it sure that we will have enough
bees in it TO keep up the proper tenn
nerature. Now we continue the same
operation until We lave given each
nucleus tive or three frames with bees
a. directed above. After we have
done this to all our nuclei. and every
one is placed on the stand prepared
for them, which ought to beln shady
place, we are ready to insert IN each
queen cell. The next day VI 90 to
tbe hive which has the queen cells,
and with sharp thin, bladed knife We
cut ont all the queen cells Lat one;
but If we should need more queen
cells, we cut all the cells out and IN
sert another frame Of brood from oNr
choice queen as direcycd 1efore, so rs
to have the lees TO rear some more
cells, AMI continue inserting new
frame If eggs as long as we may neeo
queen cells after cutting The cells ont
For our nuclei. AS this colony which
is rfaring'qneens is oueenless and los
;ug bees daily, it is necessary to give
t. occasionally frame Of hatchlnE
brood, which vii keep 1t in good con-
ditior u,.til It gets a LAYING queen;
but it is best to use another colony to
build cells after the second I'm, as |
nave noticed that bees seem to get
Discouraged after building cells twice
and often thav fail to build any after
The seccra time.
In cutting the cells leave, when
practicable about one>halF or three
quarters Of a. inch Of square comb
attached .to them and place them in a
little covered loz, to protect them,
until ready TO insert them into the
nuclei, from The hot sun or cool All,
and from robbeI- bees which may be
trying to steal the honey that may
have been running in the operation Of
cutting the cells out.
To insert the queen cells, giving one
to each nucleus, We make a cut in the
brood frame tt the nucleus, just large
enough to receive the cell and to pre-,
vent COMPRISING the CELL for Il the
cell is pressed or dented, if it matches
a queen ct all'she will be crippled.
An open space must be left below the
cell. We must fit the cells as nicely
and securely as possible, or the bees
may tumble them down in the bottom
Of The hive.
1t very often happens that two or
more cells are built 50 close together
tLat it is impossible TO separate them
without breaking one or both. In this
case, we insert the whole, aud by look.
ing often to them we may find the
first queen while she is biting her way
out, or soon enough after she is out to
save the others. In three or four days
after the cells are inserted, il we have
done these operations in proper time,