GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE 



slowly while the embryo is developing. At 

 hatching, the embryo, now a completely 

 formed larva, suddenly lengthens, and after 

 hatching is considerably longer than the 

 egg from which it came (Fig. XV.). 



The process of development has been 

 spoken of above as a molding process, 

 guided by an external force, and so it seems 

 at first glance. It is, however, much more 

 wonderful, since it is really accomplished 

 by the cells themselves, each of which has 

 its proper destiny to fulfill, whether it be 

 to form a nerve-cell, a skin-cell, or a stom- 

 ach-cell. One is almost tempted to think 

 that every cell " knows what to do " — where 

 to go and what form to take — so accurately 

 do the cells, at first all alike, group them- 

 selves and change in accordance with the 

 duties they have to perform. It is like a 

 colony of bees, some of which act as guards, 

 some as nurses, some as gatherers, etc.; 

 only in the egg the organism is much more 

 precise and the final effect much more har- 

 monious and complete. This is the real 

 riddle of development. It still remains 

 unanswered. 



Some one may ask, " What good is such 

 knowledge to the beekeeper? " The answer 

 is that it is of no immediatp value, in dollars 

 and cents; but that to make effective prog- 

 ress in beekeeping a thoro scientific knowl- 

 edge of the bee is necessary, and this knowl- 

 edge comprises the anatomy, the beha\aor, 

 the phy.siology, and the development of this 

 insect. No intelligent beekeeper will deny 

 that a knowledge of the structure, develop- 

 ment, etc., of the larva might beeomo of 

 great practical value iii queen-rearing, and 

 yet the lan'a cannot be thoroly understood 



without knowing its earlier development in 

 the egg. Moreover the thoro study of any 

 scientific problem, especially if it relates 

 to an animal or insect of practical impor- 

 tance, is reasonably certain, sooner or later, 

 to prove of value, often in the most unex- 

 pected way. The greater part of our mar- 

 velous advances in applied science and in- 

 vention rest upon a basis of investigation 

 which in its beginnings held no promise of 

 ultimate commercial value. For example, 

 the study of entomology for many years — 

 in fact, up to quite a recent time — was 

 regarded as merely an intellectual diversion 

 for cranks having leisure and means. Yet 

 the work of these supposedly harmless lu- 

 natics forms the basis for the tremendous 

 annual saving to the farmer and fruit- 

 gi'ower by the prevention of insect irjury. 

 The table given below will serve to sum- 

 marize the brief account just given, and 

 shows the principal changes taking place 

 in the egg, and its age in hours at the time 

 that these different changes take place. 



TABLE SHOWING RATE OP DEVELOPMENT IN 



THE EGG OF THE BEE. 



Ag:e in 

 hours 

 1-16 



16-30 



Stage of Development 



Cells increase in number by repeated di- 

 vision. 



Cells unite on surface of the egg to form 

 blastoderm. 



54 



Blastoderm folds to form germ layers. 



Formation of embryonic membrane. 



Preparation of materials completed. 

 I Rudiments of mouth parts, legs, brain, 



and all important organs become visi- 



I ble. Fig. VIII. _ 



I Mouth parts, legs, and organs well ad- 

 j vanoed in development but not com- 

 I plete. Pig. X. 



Development of egg completed. Egg 

 hatches. Fi g . XV. 



MASSACHUSETTS MEN INDEPENDENT 



BY B. N. GATES, SEC. 



A most successful m.eeting of the Hamp- 

 shire, Hampden, Franklin Beekeepers' As- 

 sociation was held in the Board of Trade 

 rooms, Springfield, Mass., on May 13. This, 

 the annual meeting, was postponed from 

 March 16, when it was to have been held in 

 Amherst in conjunction with the beekeeping 

 meetings during Farmers' Week. 



Much the same program was followed. 

 The election of officers resulted as follows: 

 President, C. M. Smith, Florence, Mass. ; 

 Vice-presidents, A. C. Andrews, Hayes 

 Ave., Chicopee, Mass. ; Rev. D. D. Gorton, 

 W. Springfield, Mass., and L. R. Smith, 

 Hadley, Mass.; Secretary-treasurer, B. N. 

 Gates, Amherst, Mass. 



Among the other official business was the 

 amendment of the constitution, whereby 



action of June 13, 1912, for the affiliation 

 of (his society with the National Beekeep- 

 ers' Association, was rescinded. Unanimous 

 vote also re-established the annual fee to 

 fifty cents per annum. Further modification 

 of the constitution and by-laws was of 

 minor importance. 



Among the papers read was the annual 

 address of the President, C. M. Smith, who 

 presented numerous " Timely Suggestions 

 to Beekeepers." By way of a report of 

 progress for the committee on honey-labels 

 and standard packages. Dr. B. N. Gates, 

 chairman, explained what constitutes an 

 attractive label. Mention was also made of 

 the standardization of honey-containers, 

 pai-ficularly small glass containers. After 

 the report, discussion followed, wherein it 



