The Busy Bee 123 



sweets of the land, without having to toil for 

 it while they exist. 



Briefly considered the inner life of the hive 

 is as follows: 



All through the cold months, from late in 

 November up to nearly the first of May the 

 hive is dormant. During this time its mem- 

 bers, which are now all workers, hang in a 

 large conical cluster in the hive. But there 

 is a constant movement of the individuals in 

 the cluster, which keeps it warm. 



From time to time they feed upon the 

 honey that has been stored up for that pur- 

 pose, but they are not as hungry as they would 

 be if more active. If the winter supply of 

 honey runs low, the bee-keeper feeds them 

 upon sugar melted to a thin syrup. 



On an exceptionally warm day in April the 

 swarm begins to warm up, and as so6n as any 

 of the earliest wild flowers blossom the bees 

 are on hand to take toll. 



So it will be seen they are no laggards and 

 they tread very close upon the heels of the 

 tardy spring. 



