64 BEEEDIKG. 



weather cold enough to seal the entrance with ice, and 

 smother the bees. I assisted to remove the combs, and 

 found young brood in abundance, from the perfect 

 bee, through all stages of growth. This stock had 

 been in the cold all winter. I have further noticed, 

 when sweeping out the litter under the hives early in 

 spring, pay the first of March, that young bees would 

 often be found under the best stocks. Hence it ap- 

 pears there is but little time, and perhaps none, when 

 our best stocks have no brood. Yet stocks, when 

 very weak, do not commence till warm weather. It 

 seen\s that a certain degree of warmth is necessary to 

 perfect the brood, which a small family cannot gen- 

 erate. 



HOW SMALL STOCKS COMMENCE. 



The first eggs are deposited in the centre of the 

 cluster of bees, in a small family ; it may not be in 

 the centre of the hive in all oases ; but the middle of 

 the cluster is the warmest place, wherever located. 

 Here the queen will first commence ; a few cells, or a 

 space not larger than a dollar, is first used, those 

 exactly opposite on the same comb are next occupied. 

 If the warmth of the hive will allow, whether mild 

 weather produces it, or the family be large enough to 

 generate that Avhich is artificial, appears to make no 

 difference ; she will then take the next combs exactly 

 corresponding with the first commencement, but not 

 quite as large a place is used as in the first comb. The 

 circle of eggs in the first is then enlarged, and more 

 are added in the next, &c., continuing to spread to the 



