‘ 
120 FOOD OF BEES. 
evident that, without honey, it could not support the mature 
bees; and this led former observers to conclude that it 
served for the building of comb. Huber, after demonstrat- 
ing that wax can be secreted from.an entirely different sub- 
stance, soon ascertained that pollen was used for the 
nourishment of the embryo bees. Confining some bees to 
their hive without any pollen, he supplied them with honey, 
eggs, and larve. Ina short time, the young all perished. 
A fresh supply of brood being given to them, with an ample 
allowance of pollen, the development of the larve pro- 
ceeded in the natural way. 
264. We had an excellent opportunity of testing the 
value of this substance, in the backward Spring of 1852. On 
the 5th of February, we opened a hive containing an artifi- 
cial swarm of the previous year, and found many of the cells 
filled with brood. ‘The combs being examined on the 23d, 
contained neither eggs, brood nor bee-bread; and the col- 
ony was supplied with pollen from another hive; the next 
day, a large number of eggs were found in the cells. When 
this supply was exhausted, laying again ceased, and was 
only resumed when more was furnished. During the time 
of these experiments, the weather was so unpromising, that 
the bees were unable to leave the hive. 
Dzierzon is of opinion that bees can furnish food for their 
young, without pollen; although he admits that they can do 
it only for a short time, and at a great expense of vital en- 
ergy; just as the strength of an animal nursing its young is 
rapidly reduced, if, for want of proper food, the very sub- 
stance of the mother’s body must be converted into milk. 
The experiment just described does not corroborate this 
theory, but confirms Huber’s view, that pollen is indispen- 
sable to the development of brood. 
Gundelach, an able German Apiarist, says that if a col- 
ony with a fertile queen be confined to an empty hive, and 
supplied with honey, comb will be rapidly built, and the 
