•26 BULLETIN 1349, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



CONDITIONS WITHIN THE HIVE 



The value of insulation in early spring is not demonstrated clearly 

 in the case of these colonies because virtually summer weather pre- 

 vailed in March, thus producing conditions within the colonies which 

 tended to offset in a measure any evil effects of the cold weather in 

 early April. Unfortunately, too, the colonies (Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 

 16) which were left packed until May suffered from lack of room just 

 at the time of the unfavorable weather, so that no comparison may 

 be made with them. Of the colonies left all winter without packing 

 four (Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8) present such abnormal conditions due both 

 to lack of room and to failing queens as to offer little light on this 

 subject. The other four colonies, which were not packed for winter, 

 however, did not suffer from lack of room, and, although each dif- 

 fered as to prolificness of queen and colony population, each shows a 

 break in brood rearing associated with the cold weather of the fore 

 part of April. Colony No. 4, nevertheless, had sufficient bees to 

 overcome quickly the effect of this weather and to proceed to the 

 maximum brood-rearing activity of the year. Although the brood- 

 rearing activity of three of the colonies (Nos. 9, 10, and 12) unpacked 

 in March appeared to be somewhat restricted during early April, the 

 later performance of the queens in these colonies and the fact that no 

 great decrease in brood-rearing activity immediately took place, indi- 

 cate that sufficient bees were on hand to keep up the temperature of 

 the brood area in its entire extent at that time, and even to have 

 cared for a larger area had the queen been capable of increased egg 

 laying. The brood area of the other colony (No. 11) which was un- 

 packed in March shows a decided restriction following the cold 

 weather. Although a comparison of the direct effect of adequate 

 insulation on brood rearing can not be made from the brood records 

 of these colonies in 1921, the fact remains that the colonies minus 

 packing which were most normal did suffer a setback in brood rearing 

 as a result of the cold weather. A strong colony without packing, 

 like No. 4, shows, however, a certain amount of resistance to the 

 effects of such weather. 



CONDITIONS OF THE COLONY 



The influence on brood rearing of the three important factors, 

 prolificness of queen, colony population, and brood cells available, 

 becomes so interwoven in certain colonies that it is hard to trace the 

 separate influence of each. The important part played by colony 

 population in determining when the maximum brood-rearing activity 

 of the season will take place is well illustrated by colony No. 2, which 

 reached the maximum of the brood-rearing season relatively late. In 

 this colony lack of population was beginning to restrict the brood 

 area somewhat, even in late March. Population of colony accom- 

 plishes little in itself if the queen is not prolific. The brood records 

 of colonies Nos. 3, 7, and 8 all attest this fact. It so happened that 

 each of these queens had been introduced two seasons previously. 

 On the other hand, the queen of colony No. 4, in 1922, the second 

 season after her introduction, made as good a record as in 1921. 

 This shows that in certain instances, at least, the value of a queen 

 can not be determined merely by her age. 



