1907. 



THE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



115 



the reverse of this as it is found in the 

 larger cells of drone comb should 

 invariably result in the production of 

 males. Now, it is no uncommon 

 thing for the queen of a swarm to 

 m^ake use of a comb the bees are build- 

 ing from a full sheet of worker founda- 

 tion wherein the cells are not more 

 than one-eighth of an inch deep. There 

 can not possibly be any compression 

 in such cases and accordingly her eggs 

 should develop into male bees; bur 

 they don't do it. 



tions never fail to give expression to 

 their anexiety or their grievances by 

 the building of drone comb. It does 

 not matter how compactly the cluster- 

 ed comb builders may draw together, 

 if the impulse to swarm is present or 

 the need of drones is felt for any cause 

 whatever, drone comb will be largely 

 in evidence. In proof of this let us 

 notice the work of a colony a few days 

 before it casts a swarm. Give them 

 an empty frame in the brood chamber 

 and they invariably build drone comb. 



ST. LAWRENCE AND JEFFERSON CO., N. Y., BEE-KEEPERS CONVENTION, GOUVER 

 NO. 16 NEUR, N. Y., DEC. I4-I5, I906. 



The construction of worker comb 

 always means contentment; drone 

 comb signifies dissatisfaction, discon- 

 tent or unrest. There may be perfect 

 contentment in one part of the hive, 

 and a state of discontent in another 

 part at the same time, and this is quite 

 often the case. Local disorders of this 

 kind often correct themselves, but 

 when the feeling becomes general, 

 swarming results. But these little fac- 



Now if bees usually swarm because 

 of a crowded condition of the hive, 

 would it be possible for fhem to clust- 

 er more compactly than we find them 

 in the case cited? But do they build 

 worker com-b? No, sir. 



Now notice, please, the work of the 

 swarm after it has been put into an 

 empty hive. If ever there was a time 

 when bees are supposed to feel the 

 need of store comb, it is then. But 



