242 SUMMER. 



lost, (one in fifteen). If the number of drones was 

 any less than it is, the queen would have ta repeat 

 her excursions in proportion, before successful. As 

 it is, some have to leave several times. The chances 

 and consequences are so great, that on the whole no 

 doubt but it is better to rear a thousand unnecessarily, 

 than to lack one just in time of need. Therefore let 

 us endeavor to be content with the present arrange- 

 ment, inasmuch as we could not better it, and proba- 

 bly had we been consulted, would have so fixed " the 

 thing, that it would not go at all." 



But what is the use of the drones in hives that do 

 not swarm, and do not intend it, situated in a large 

 room or very large hives ? Such circumstances sel- 

 dom produce swarms, yet as regular as the return of 

 summer, a brood of. drones appear. What are they 

 for? Suppose the old queen in such hive dies, leav- 

 ing eggs or young larvas, and a young queen is reared 

 to supply her place. How is she to be impregnated 

 without the drones? Perhaps they are taught that 

 whenever they can afford it, they should have some 

 on hand to be ready for an emergency. I have al- 

 ready said when bees are numerous, and honey abun- 

 dant, they never fail to provide them. I once put a 

 swarm in a glass hive. The queen was a cripple, 

 having lost one of her posterior legs ; in two months 

 after she was replaced by one young and perfect. 

 Here wa§ an instance of drones being needed, when 

 no intention of swarming was indicated ; the hive was 

 but little more than half fulL 



