52 BEES AND BEE-KEEPING. 



way he thought she determined their sex according 

 to the size of the cells in which she laid them. 



I think it highly probable that the queen under- 

 stands quite well, that when she deposits an egg iu 

 a drone cell it will bring forth a drone, and if in a 

 worker cell it will bring forth a worker. That she 

 does know when it is proper to deposit eggs in drone 

 cells preparatory to swarming in the spring, is at- 

 tested by all observing apiarians. Who ever saw 

 eggs laid in drone cells in midwinter, or early in the 

 spring, until nearly the time for swarming? Yet it 

 is well known that all strong stocks commence to 

 breed early in January (if, indeed, they ever cease 

 entirely) ; and as the cold weather recedes the quan- 

 tity is increased. In the latter part of March and 

 through April, a very considerable quantity of brood 

 may be found in all strong stocks in this latitude, 

 42 degrees (of course this will vary with different 

 latitudes); and yet not a single drone can be found 

 in any condition, from the egg to the perfect insect. 

 I have cut holes in a worker brood-comb, and in- 

 serted corresponding pieces of drone-comb, which 

 they (the workers) would fasten and adjust very 

 nicely, giving the appearance of drone cells inter- 

 mixed with worker cells, and had all the worker 

 cells around these drone cells filled with brood, but 

 they remained empty ; sometimes a little honey 

 might be seen in them, as if stored there for imme- 

 diate use. Again I have seen combs that were built 

 irregular or in detached pieces; of these perhaps a 

 piece of drone comb would be in a central position, 



