2/6 AGRICULTURE 



out the drones, leaving them to starve or stinging them to death 

 if they try to return. 



It takes about twenty-one days for eggs to become perfect bees. 

 Young workers begin life as nurses for the larvae. When about 

 ten days old, they try their wings; in a few days they are busy 

 with field work, making honey. 



Swarms. As soon as the oldest queen's cell is sealed, the old 

 queen leaves the hive, followed by many bees. This is called a 

 swarm. It gathers in a mass about the queen on a branch of 

 a tree or elsewhere. The beekeeper cuts off this branch or 

 shakes the bees into a basket or on a cloth and puts them into 

 an empty hive. 



Hives. Good hives with movable frames should be used, so 

 that filled combs may be taken out at will. In order to let the bees 

 devote their time to honey making, artificial combs are sometimes 

 used, or natural combs have the honey removed in a machine called 

 a honey extractor and are put back to be refilled. A tin-lined 

 entrance to the hive protects the bees against their enemies, mice. 

 An anti-robbing entrance guards against robber bees which are 

 apt to steal honey from weak hives. 



Winter Care. - The beekeeper should be careful not to deprive 

 his colony of winter food. When the honey is taken in late fall, a 

 thick sirup made of sugar should be put where the bees have access 

 to it. They soon store this up for winter food. In severe climates 

 the hives should be kept through the winter in a dry, well-venti- 

 lated, moderately warm place, such as a good cellar. 



EXERCISE 



1. What flowers have you seen visited by bees? At what season do 

 bees make most honey and why? 



2, Have you ever seen a queen bee? Can you distinguish a drone 

 from a. worker? 



