MANAGING BEES. 37 



from the apiary, the better to prevent its be- 

 in<j^ robbed by other swarms. When it is some 

 (Hstance from other colonies, they are not so 

 likely to learn its comparative strength. There 

 is but little danger however, of its being rob- 

 bed, until after the bees are out of danger of 

 losing their Queen, which generally occurs in 

 the swarming season. 



The Queen is sometimes lost, in conse- 

 quence of the young brood being too far ad- 

 vanced at the time of the departure of the old 

 Queen with her swarm. If the grubs had ad- 

 vanced very near the dormant or^clirysalis 

 state, before the bees learnt their necessity for 

 a Queen, and the old Queen neglected to 

 leave eggs, wliich is sometimes the case, then 

 it would be impossible for the bees to change 

 their nature, and the colony would be lost, 

 unless supplied with another. 



