90 THE BEE keeper's MANUAI.. 



ample allowance of pollen, and the development of the larvse 

 then proceeded in the natural way. 



When a colony is actively engaged in carrying in this 

 article, it may be taken for granted that they have a fertile 

 queen, and are busy in breeding. On the contrary, if any 

 colony is not gathering pollen when others are, the queen 

 is either dead, or diseased, and the hive should at once be 

 examined. 



In the backward spring of 1852, 1 had an excellent op- 

 portunity of testing the value of this substance. In one of 

 my hives, was an artificial swarm of the previous year. 

 The hive was well protected, being double, and the situatioii 

 was warm. I opened it on the 5th of February, and al- 

 though the weather, until within a week of that time, had 

 been unusually cold, I found many of the cells filled with 

 brood. On the 23d, the combs were again examined, and 

 found to contain, neither eggs, brood, nor bee bread. The 

 bees were then supplied with bee bread taken from another 

 hive : the next day, this was found to have been used by 

 them, and a large number of eggs had been deposited in 

 the cells. When this supply was exhausted, egg-laying 

 ceased, and was again renewed when more was furnished 

 them. 



During all the time of these experiments, the weather 

 was unpromising, and as the bees were unable to go out for 

 water, they were supplied at home with this important 

 article. 



Dzierzon is of opinion that the bees are able to furnish 

 food for the young, without the presence of pollen in the 

 hive ; although he admits that they can do this only for a 

 short time, and at a great expense of vital energy ; just as 

 the strength of an animal nursing its young is rapidly re- 

 duced, when for want of proper food. The very substance 



