PHYSIOLOGY. 31 



are so imperfectly developed that they are incapable of 

 breeding, and which retain the instinct of females, only so 

 far as to give the most devoted attention to feeding and rear- 

 ing the brood. 



These facts have all been demonstrated repeatedly, and 

 are as well established as the most common facts in the 

 breeding of our domestic animals. The knowledge of them 

 in their most important bearings, is absolutely essential to all 

 who expect to realize large profits from an improved method 

 of rearing bees. Those who will not acqnire the necessary 

 information, if they keep bees at all, should manage them 

 in the old-fashioned way, which requires the smallest amount 

 either of knowledge or skill. 



I am perfectly aware how difficult it is to reason with a 

 large class of bee-keepers, some of whom have been so 

 often imposed upon, that they have lost all faith in the truth 

 of any statements which may be made by any one interested 

 in a patent hive, while others stigmatize all knowledge which 

 does not square with their own, as " book-knowledge," and 

 unworthy the attention of practical men. 



If any such read this book, let me remind them again, 

 that all my assertions may be put to the test. So long as 

 the interior of a hive, was to common observers, a profound 

 mystery, ignorant and designing men might assert what 

 they pleased, about what passed in its dark recesses ; but 

 now, when all that takes place in it, can, in a few moments, 

 be exposed ' to the fuU light of day, and every one who 

 keeps bees, can see and examine for himself, the man who 

 attempts to palrft upon the community, his own conceits for 

 facts, will speedily earn for himself, the character both of a 

 fool and an impostor. 



The Queon Bee, or as she may more properly be called 

 THE MOTflER BEE, is the common mother of the whole 



