BEES 



349 



The nectar which bees gather from flowers is made into 

 honey, and the pollen into beebread, for the young bees. 



Bees are kept in hives. A hive is a box having a top 

 and bottom that can be removed. The bottom projects 

 somewhat on one side to form a platform on which the 

 bees may alight. They can then pass inside through a 

 small hole at the base of the hive. Within the box frames 



BEEHIVES IN AN ORCHARD. 

 Bees are useful in pollinating plants. 



are arranged in which the honey is to be placed and the 

 young reared. 



In the spring, when the colony has increased in num- 

 bers and a new queen is about to appear, the old queen 

 gathers together a large number of workers and leaves the 

 colony. This is " swarming." The swarm usually lights 

 on some object like a tree limb. It is then necessary to 

 collect the swarm in a bag, and place it in a new hive. 

 Bee keepers sometimes clip the wings of the queen to 

 keep her from flying far. Thus they run little risk of 

 losing the swarm. 



During the winter, bees need protection from cold. 

 The hive should be placed in a cellar, or shed, or be 



