SUMMER MANAGEMENT. 185 
well as to the queen, in which case, as far as we can sce, 
the design must have reference to stimulation towards 
the only known function of the drones’ existence. 
Water.—At certain dry periods, but always in the 
breeding time, bees require a supply of water, which 
is necessary in preparing the farina and honey for 
the brood, as well as to enable them to secrete wax. 
If no pond or brook is within a reasonable distance, 
a shallow vessel should be filled frequently to the 
brim, with a piece of thin perforated wood floating on 
it and covering the whole surface; or it may be filled 
with moss or pebbles, pouring in water to the tup, 
and placing if near the apiary. Precaution is 
necessary, for the bees easily slip into the water and 
are drowned. The partaking of pollen and of water by 
the bees are occurrences which go very much together, 
and which each of them, at certain seasons, involve 
their own special precautions; bnt in summer time 
the bee-keeper is obviously set free from any concern 
in regard to the supply of pollen. 
Shade.—It has already,been observed that out-door 
hives ought not to be left exposed to the mid-day 
and afternoon sun in sultry weather; the heat not 
only rendering the bees extremely irascible, but 
subjecting the combs to melting, and with most 
disastrous consequences. In all such cases it is well, 
therefore, to give the comfort of a mat, or something 
of the kind, thrown over them. In the words of 
Gelieu, “They delight best in thick forests, because 
they there find a uniform temperature and a pro- 
pitious shade. It is a mistake to suppose that bees 
exposed to the sun produce the earliest and strong- 
