28 



MANUAL OF APICULTURE. 



side temperature is low. Accordingly estimates as to the amount of 

 honey required to produce 1 pound of comb range from 5 pounds to 25 

 pounds. More accurate experiments are needed in this direction before 

 anything positive can be stated. Until then 18 to 20 pounds might be 

 looked upon as nearest the correct figure for white surplus combs, and 

 half as much for dull straw-colored or brownish combs built for brood 

 rearing. 



DEVELOPMENT OF BROOD. 



Ordinarily the winter cluster in a hive of bees occupies the more cen- 

 tral combs, four or five in number. Near the middle of this cluster the 

 queen deposits the first eggs of the season (which are fertilized eggs) in 

 the small-sized or worker cells. Under favorable circumstances, that 

 is, in a strong colony amply protected against inclement weather, this 

 deposition usually occurs in January, though in a very mild climate some 

 brood is generally present during every month of the year, and the cessa- 

 tion of egg-laying is very short. The eggs hatch on the third day after 

 deposition into minute white larvae, to which the workers supply food 

 in abundance. The composition of this food has been the subject of 

 much attention and more theorizing. It may be considered as pretty 

 certain that during the first three days of the life of the larva its food 

 is a secretion from glands located in the heads of the adult work- 

 ers a sort of bee milk, to which, after the third day, honey is added 

 in the case of the .worker larvae, and honey and pollen in the case of 

 drone larvae. As this weaning proceeds both worker and drone larvae 

 receive pollen, and in constantly increasing proportions, in place of the 

 secretion. But this rich albuminous substance is continued to the 

 queen larvae throughout their whole period of feeding; moreover, the 

 quantity of this food supplied to each queen larva is apparently super- 

 abundant, for after it ceases to feed quite a mass of the food somewhat 

 dried out will be found in the bottom of the cell from, which a well- 

 developed queen has issued. After assuming the pupa form the young 

 queen is attached to this food by means of the tip of the abdomen, and 

 it very likely continues for some time to receive nourishment from the 

 mass. 



The following table shows approximately the time occupied in the 

 development of worker, drone, and queen : 



Queen . . 

 Worker 

 Drone . . 



Days. 



3 

 3 



Larva. 



Days. 



5 



G 



The original circles of brood are gradually increased by the deposition 

 of eggs in the cells next outside those already occupied, and circles are 

 soon begun in the adjoining combs. In this way the space occupied by 



