THOUSAND ANSWERS 199 



brood Xovember 1 is no proof of queenlessness, neither is the 

 failure to find the queen, for the queen is hard to find, because 

 small. Unless you have some stronger proof than the presence 

 oi drones, better leave it till spring, and then break it up, divid- 

 ing the combs and bees among your weakest colonies. If sure it 

 is queenless, you can break it up at once. In any case, it will do no 

 great harm to leave it till spring. 



Q. If a colony of bees lost its queen in the winter, how long 

 would it live? 



A. If she were lost in the winter, the supposition would be 



that she laid as long as usual in the fall. The bees would become 



less and less in the spring, and if they did not desert the hive the 



last of them might be dead perhaps some time in May, or June. 



Races of Bees (See also Italians, Carniolans, Caucasians, Cy- 

 prians, Funics, Etc.) — Q. Could one keep several different races of 

 bees in the same apiary? 



A-. Unless it be for the sake of experimenting with a different 

 race, it is better not to try to keep more than one kind. Even 

 with only one, you may find it beyond you to keep them pure; 

 for they will mix with bees as far as a mile or two away and 

 farther. 



Q. Are all breeds of bees of the same size? If not, which are 

 the largest breeds? What is the main color of the so-called gray 

 Caucasians? Are they gray or black, and are they as good work- 

 ers as the Italians ? 



A. Honeybees are practically the same in size. Caucasians 

 look so much like common black bees that you couldn't tell them 

 apart by their looks. Opinions differ as to their gentleness and 

 storing qualities. While some prefer Caucasians, the majority 

 prefer Italians. 



Rape. — Q. Has rape any honey value to make it worth plant- 

 ing for bees alone? When should it be planted to yield the most 

 honey? 



A. Rape is a fine honey-plant, but neither that or any other 

 plant will pay to sow for honey alone, unless it be on waste land 

 where it will take care of itself. Spring is probably as good a 

 time as any to sow rape. In Germany rape is highly prized as a 

 honey-plant, and sometimes bees are hauled some distance to 

 be in reach of rape fields. 



Raspberries. — Q. Do bees gather much from the blossoms of 

 raspberries? 



