and its Economic Management. 37 



work outside, and as these do most of the comb-building 

 as well as store the honey, have we not here the reason 

 why the pollen is so seldom found in new stored combs ? 

 Of course, we know that pollen is required near the brood 

 nest, but much of it is purposely stored and covered with 

 honey in view of future requirements, and if the load could 

 be transferred, as the honey is to the youngar bees, we 

 should not be able to reckon upon the almost total 

 absence of that article from our comb honey. 



That the young bees do take so large a share of the 

 work, as explained above, shows remarkable economy of 

 labour, and disproves the theory that there is no benefit 

 to be derived from brood hatched out less than three weeks 

 previous to the probable close of the honey harvest. 

 During a heavy ilow, which implies, of course, very warm 

 weather, I have seen hives with none but newly-hatched 

 bees at home, proving also that upon an emergency 

 young bees begin to carry much earlier than is often 

 supposed. The fact is, from the time surplus receptacles 

 are put on, the production of brood should be limited to 

 the capacity of nine " Standard " frames. That number 

 of combs crowded with brood, except for the usual quantity 

 of pollen stored, will represent the population needed to 

 make up for the continued wear and tear of bee-life, 

 and to keep the stock in good heart after the hard work 

 is past ; as few of those which have gathered the stores 

 are to be found within three weeks after the close of the 

 season. Examine the hive, and you will find every field 

 worker has its wings more or less worn ; look again, after 

 the interval named, and they are gone. 



How the Honey is Stored. 



We will now watch a bee relieving itself of the nectar 

 brought in. Should she select an empty cell, she first 



