10 BEE-KEEPING IN WAR-TIME 



ducing workers in large numbers gradually depreciates, until 

 eventually she becomes a breeder of drones only. In their 

 natural state the bees depose an old queen, replacing her 

 with a princess. The wise bee-keeper of to-day replaces 

 the queen after she has attained the age of two years. The 

 reproductive powers of the mother are marvellous: when 

 in her prime, i.e. two years old, she is capable of laying 

 from one to three thousand eggs per day. The egg laid is 

 just as perfect as that laid by the hen, and is identical in com- 

 position. The queen does no work except the laying of eggs ; 

 even her food is digested for her by the workers, and given 

 all ready for assimilation. By this means the workers, who 

 are the true rulers of the hive, regulate the queen in her 

 maternal duties: if an abundance of food is given to her, 

 she lays a large number of eggs ; the quantity is reduced, if 

 necessary, by feeding her less generously. 



There is but one queen in each hive ; a dual monarchy is 

 impossible — the presence of a second queen would mean a 

 fight between them until one was killed. Generally it is the 

 older one which succumbs, she being incapable of using her 

 sting with such fatal effect as the young one ; thus does nature 

 provide for the survival of the fittest. 



The life of the queen is spent within the hive ; on two 

 occasions only does she leave it for the outside world: first 

 as a virgin, to meet the drone in marriage, which can only 

 take place when in flight ; this when once accomplished lasts 

 for life. She then returns to the hive and within about forty- 

 eight hours commences to lay, and can then produce at wiU 

 either fertile or unfertilised eggs — the former producing females 

 only, the latter giving the males. This, called " partheno- 

 genesis," is one of the interesting features of bee life which 

 the limited scope of this book does not admit of a full descrip- 

 tion being given. To put it briefly, the drone has no father, 

 and can be produced by a mother that has never been mated ; 

 the females, queens or workers, can only be produced by a 

 married mother. The second time is when she goes out with 

 a swarm. ^ 



The queen has a sting which is curved, its only use being 

 to fight a rival. The workers take very great care of the 

 queen ; not only do they feed her, but they clean down her 

 body, protect her, and anticipate her every need. 



The workers are the drudges of the hive; they are un- 

 developed females. Their whole existence is spent in labouring 



