12* BEE-FARMING. 



Again, how were the larvae nursed or fed in early spring, 

 and again late in autumn after the destruction of the 

 drones ? This needs no answer, and Dr. Evans is cer- 

 tainly mistaken in his theory. The same with the other 

 theories, for they are merely theories, which every sensible 

 bee-keeper now knows to be foolish. 



We know no work on apiculture more readable than 

 that written by Huish, but we are sorry to state he is far 

 from trustworthy as a guide in many particulars ; for 

 example, what will our intelligent bee-keeping readers say 

 to the following extract : " If by any accident or untoward 

 event a hive be deficient in drones, the fecundation of the 

 eggs of the queen does not take place, and consequently no 

 swarms are produced ? " All our readers know perfectly 

 well, at least that portion of them who have taken delight 

 in apiarian pursuits, that hundreds, if not thousands, of the 

 busy industrious little workers are hatched and reared long 

 before the drones make their appearance every season. 



Huish also states : " When a hive swarms a number 

 of drones follow the emigrants, in proportion to the number 

 of working bees." We are quite prepared to admit that 

 some few drones are generally found in the swarm, but 

 this is the result of accident ; they are not needful to the 

 swarm. And swarms will be produced whether drones 

 exist in the hive or not. We have had one instance our- 

 selves, when we carefully extracted all the drone-cells as 

 fast as they were made ; not a drone was reared during 

 the whole summer, yet it sent out a very heavy swarm 

 the first week in June. 



We not long ago read a continental work on bees, and 

 were much amused with the curious statements made 

 by the writer, statements that could only have been the 

 creation of a fertile brain. For instance, when speaking 

 upon this subject, he very gravely asserts that drones are 

 constantly engaged carrying water for the colony, or words 



