170 THE FARMER'S MANUAL, 



Bees depend, for the establishment of the new colonies* 

 In the chapter entitled, Enemies of the Bees, may be 

 seen what a field of destruction constantly awaits this 

 most valuable insect, from their common enemies ; but 

 the accidents, or casualties of life, together with the 

 common diseases of the Bees, open another extensive 

 field of mortality for their destruction, so that, whe- 

 ther at home or abroad, asleep or awake, the Bee 

 may truly be said to be in the midst of death : all 

 this is highly to be regretted by the friends of the 

 Bee. To counteract these evils of extermination 

 which surround the Bee, nature has rendered them 

 vastly prolific, and fixed in their breasts an indisso- 

 luble* bond of union. Their broods are very numer- 

 ous, and they, like the Chinese, never emigrate, by 

 deserting their swarms ; when a swarm is once form- 

 ed, they never dissolve by desertion. 



I have noticed that the Brood all spring from the 

 eggs which the queen Bee deposits in the cells, and 

 that their number always corresponds to the exact 

 number of cells. These eggs are broad at one end, 

 and pointed at the other ; at the end of three days 

 they are hatched, and a worm appears at the bottom 

 of the cell. In this state, it is termed larva, and re- 

 tains one position in the form of a ring, without mo- 

 tion, yet replete with life. At the end of five or six 

 days, it envelops itself in a whitish silken film, and 

 changes into a chrysalis. In this state, it is called a 

 nymph. These wonderful changes are common to 

 all classes of the fly, as well as the Bee, and take 

 their rank amongst the mysteries of nature. " The 

 Bee in its state of nymph is enveloped in a pellicle, 

 so delicate and fine, that its six legs may be distinct- 

 ly seen arranged under its belly, and its proboscis 

 bent, in its whole length. The Bee in this state is 

 white; in the sequel, all the parts of the body gra- 

 Jually become covered, and insensibly develop them- 

 selves, and become perfect on the 21st to the 23d 

 day. The drone takes its flight generally on the 



