20 INTRODUCTOEY REMARKS. 



that of the workers. They have no sting, and may be 

 taken in the fingers with impunity. They 

 seem to be of the least valuable class in the 

 bee community; they assist sometimes, in 

 keeping up the necessary animal heat in the 

 hive ; but one only, out of thousands, is ac- 

 ftually serviceable in fecundating the queen 

 The number reared depends upon the 



Fig. 4.— DRONE, strength of the colony, and the stores on 



hand or being collected. 



AGE OF DRONES. 



"Whenever a scarcity of honey occurs, they are all des- 

 troyed. Thus their life is very precarious, being sometimes 

 limited to a few hours, or extended to a few days, weeks or 

 months ; but averaging much less than tbat of the workers. 



PREPARATIONS FOR SWARMING. 



In the spring and early part of summer, when nearly all 

 the combs are empty, and food is abundant, the bees rear 

 brood more extensively than at any other period. The 

 hive soon becomes crowded with bees, and royal cells are 

 constructed, in which to raise queens. When some of 

 these young queens are sufficiently advanced to be sealed 

 over, the old one, and the greater part of the workers, 

 leave for a new location, (termed swarming,) leaving those 

 remaining to maintain the prosperity of the hive. They 

 soon collect in a cluster, and if put into an empty hive, 

 commence anew their labors, constructing combs, rearing 

 brood, and storing honey, to be abandoned the following 

 year, as before. 



THE NATURE OP BEES SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD. 



We should fully understand that the nature of the bee, 

 found under any circumstances, climate, or condition, is 

 tlie same. Instincts first implanted by the Creator, liave 



