JHE FARMER'S MANUAL. 171 



27th; the queen about the 16th. These develop 

 ments are slowest in small swarms, or in temperate 

 seasons, and are suspended during the cold weather. 

 The young Bee makes use of its teeth to liberate it- 

 self from its prison, and to break the envelope ; this is 

 an operation very difficult to the young Bees, and 

 cannot be effected by all. The Bees, like all other 

 animals, express great affection for their young, un- 

 til they are come to maturity to support themselves, 

 they then become indifferent. As soon as the young 

 Bee obtains the use of his wings, he flits away into 

 the fields, and commences the labours of the swarm: 

 the old Bees proceed immediately to cleanse out 

 the cells they have left, by removing the film, &c. 

 and thus prepare them for eggs again, or honey." 



The Bees are irascible, directly in proportion to 

 the quantity of brood in the hive, and at this time, 

 they should not be disturbed ; when the brood dimi- 

 nishes, their agitation subsides, and when it comes to 

 maturity, they become tranquil again. 



Mr. Huish enters into an elaborate discussion of 

 the question, whether any food is administered to 

 the brood when in the state of larva, as is questioned 

 by some ; and if any, whether it be pure honey, or ho- 

 ney and farina, as is the opinion of others ; but as he 

 concludes with this remark, " the truth cannot be po- 

 sitively ascertained," and then assumes a decision, by 

 way of analogy from the butterfly and other insects, 

 I shall wave that part of his discussion, and enter up- 

 on the next chapter. 



CHAP. X. 



On the Combs of the Bee. 



Immediately when a swarm of Bees take posses- 

 sion of a hive, they begin to clear and cleanse i; 



