BREEDING. 81% 



but very little' about this point, I wish, to induce 

 closer observation, and would recommend no positive 

 decision, until all the facts that will apply have been 

 examined. Whether these drone-egg theories have 

 been too hastily adopted, the reader can decide ; I 

 shall offer a few more facts, somewhat difficult to 

 reconcile with them. 



First, in relation to the queeen being "eleven 

 months old" before laying drone eggs. We all agree, 

 I believe, that the old queen goes with the first swarm, 

 and a young one remains in the old stock. Now sup- 

 pose the first swarm leaves in June, and the old stock 

 yet contains a numerous family. The flowers of 

 buckwheat in August yield a bountifal tarvest of 

 honey. This old stock rears a large brood of drones. • 

 Is it not proved in this case that the queen was but 

 two months old, instead of eleven ? We farther agree 

 that young queens accompany second or after-swarms. 

 When these happen to be large and prosperous, they 

 never fail to rear a brood of drones at this season. 

 What is the age of these? I apprehend that this 

 eleven months theory originated in sections where 

 there are no crops of buckwheat raised, or in small 

 quantities. Clover generally fails in August, and 

 May, or June, of another year comes round, before 

 there is a sufficient yield to produce the brood. With 

 these observations only, how very rational to conclude 

 that it must be a law of their nature, instead of being 

 governed by the yield of honey, and size of the 

 family ? If the periods of drone egg laying are 

 limited to only two or three, it would seem that aU 

 4* 



