1900 



TEE AMERICAN BEE-KEEPER. 



45 



of brood and eg^s, and another frame with 

 eggs was at once given them. On the 

 24th four queen cells, two drone larvae 

 and about 300 worker larviv were nearly 

 completed. 



Number 2 also swarmed on the nth, 

 and was treated in the same way as the 

 first, but did not tear out all the eggs, and 

 on July 24tli had nine queen, ten drone 

 and two worker cells all capped. This 

 swarm, like the first, had also changed 

 stands. 



swarmed July 14th and was treated the 

 same as number 3 and 4. On July 24th it 

 was found to contain 28 queen, 10 drone 

 and 800 to 900 worker pupae. 



As there were no drone cells in any of 

 the combs given these five swarms, the 

 drones reared were in enlarged worker 

 cells and the more convinced ine that bees 

 will and do rear drones from what are 

 called "worker eggs." 



The idea of a normal quten slipping 

 cogs and dropping stitches, and that young 





V.vv 



''^ 



Number 3 swarmed Jul3- 13th and was 

 given a frame of eggs ; their queen was 

 taken away as soon as the bees were all 

 in the hive, but the hive was not removed 

 from the old stand. On July 24th they 

 had 14 queen, six drone, and 300 to 400 

 workers capped. 



Number 4 swarmed Jul}' 13th, and was 

 treated the same as No. 3, and had 22 

 queen, 20 drone and about 2,500 worker 

 pupae all capped on the 24th. The pic- 

 ture herewith shown is of the latter. It was 

 taken 1 1 days after having been given to 

 the bees, and was somewhat mutilated by 

 accident in taking it to the artist. No. 5 



queens occasionally lay drone eggs is 

 purely imaginative, and wholly without 

 foundation according to my carefully con- 

 ducted experiments. 



It is claimed by scientists that, 1)\- the 

 use of very delicate instruments, the 

 sperm may be extracted from the egg; 

 but when the operation has been per- 

 formed these scientific experts dispute 

 among them.selves as to whether it has 

 been accomplished; and, indeed, is it any 

 wonder? Just think of it, reader, of the 

 minute atom of the fertilizing agent re- 

 ceived by the queen at the time of mat- 

 ing ; she is, in the course of her life sup- 



