216 Spring. [May, 



designating the queens food it has been called by Apiarians' " roy- 

 al jelly." 



Once upon the queen being removed from our observing hive, in 

 •which every operation can be seen ; the bees set to work after a 

 short time, to restore her majesty, and by the second day they had 

 commenced twelve queen cells, and in fourteen days, twelve young 

 queens emerged. Plere again, true to their remarkable instincts, they 

 immediately set about killing them, and did actually kill all but one. 

 The community will not suffer but one queen to live in a hive at a 

 time. It is from some four to seven days after she emerges before 

 she can fully perform the office of queen. Her fecundation must 

 first take place, which is in the open air, generally above the regin 

 of birds, amidst a sally of drones before mentioned, which at the 

 time pervades the air, flying in all directions. Why so many 

 drones ? So that the young queen which rarely leaves the hive 

 may be sure not to escape meeting one. The instant of copulation 

 the drone drops dead, and the queen darts to the hive, and in from 

 three to five days begins to lay eggs, and continues to lay oggs dur- 

 ing the period of her natural existence, of from two to five years. 



This to many may be regarded as imagination. But we make 

 these remarks from personal observation, and experience, besides, 

 they are in accordance with the expressed views of our distinguish- 

 ed Apiarians, with Huber at the head — Ed. 



( TO BE CONTINUED. ) 



SPRING, 



As regards vegetation, we have seen that winter is the season of 

 repose, of passive existence, of dormancy, though not of death. 

 Spring on the contrary, is the season of returning life, of passing 

 into active exertion, of hope, and of joy; of hope, as the world of 

 life springs into view immediately after the industrious hand has 

 scattered the seed upon the ground, and of joy, in contemplating with 

 confidence, the reproductions of the herbs and flowers. The emo- 

 tions to which this delightful season gives rise are better felt than 

 described, and to know and appreciate them you must repair to the 

 country and enjoy them for yourself. There the chosen draught, 



