MANAGING BEES. 



6", 



wing, as 1 have repeatedly seen. That the 

 drone is the male bee, is probable from the 

 fact that the drones are not all killed at once ; 

 but at least one in each hive is permitted 

 to live several months after the general mas- 

 sacre. 



1 examined four swarms, whose colonies 

 were strong and numerous, three months 

 after the general massacre of the drones, and 

 in three hives 1 found one drone each ; the 

 other was probably overlooked, as the bees 

 were thrown into the fire as fast as they were 

 examined. But there are many mysterious 

 things concerning them, and much might be 

 written to little purpose ; and as it is design- 

 ed to go no further in illustrations than is ne- 

 cessary to aid the apiarian in good manage- 

 ment, many little speculations have been en- 

 tirely omitted in the work, and the reader is 

 referred to the writings of Thatcher, Bon- 

 ner, and Huber, who are the most volumi- 

 nous and extensive writers on bees within my 

 knowledge. 



Bees are creatures of habit, and the exer- 

 cise of caution in managing them is required. 

 A stock of bees should be placed where they 

 are to stand through the season before they 

 form habits of location, which will take place 

 soon after they commence their labors in the 



