WAX. 125 



or it may be required for both purposes , but yet I 

 have doubts if a particle is given to the young bee, be- 

 sides what the honey contains. June, and first part of 

 July, and most part of August (the season of buck- 

 Avheat,) are periods of extensive comb-making ; they 

 then use most water; breeding is carried on from 

 March till October, and as extensively ix). May, per- 

 haps more so, than in August, yet not a tenth part of 

 the water is used in May. 



I have known stocks repeatedly to mature brood 

 from the egg to the perfect bee, when shut in a dark 

 room for months, when it was impossible to obtain a 

 drop ; also stocks that stand in the cold, (if good,) will 

 mature some brood whether the bees can leave the 

 hive or not. These facts prove that some are reared 

 without water. As they get sufficient honey, to re- 

 quire more comb to store it, they will at the same 

 time have a brood ; and it is easy to guess they need 

 it for brood as comb, without a little investigation. 

 This much is certain, that they use water £tt such times 

 for some purpose, and when no pond, brook, spring, 

 or other source is within convenient distance, the api- 

 arian, would find it economy taplace some within their 

 reach, as it would save much valuable time, if they 

 would otherwise have to go a great distance, when 

 they jnight be more profitably employed ; it always 

 happens in a season of honey. It should be so situa-, 

 ted that the bees may obtain it without jeopardizing 

 their lives ; — a barrel or pail has sides so steep that a 

 great many will slip off and drown. A trough made 

 very shallow, with a good broad strip around the edge 



