LOSS OF THE QUEEN. 283 



A word to ihe young who may read this treatise. Al- 

 though enjoined to " remember your Creator in the days of 

 your youth," you are constantly tempted to neglect your 

 religious duties, and to procrastinate their performance until 

 some more " convenient season." Like the old bees in a hive 

 without a queen, that seek only their present enjoyment, 

 forgetful of the ruin which must surely overtake them, so 

 you may find that when manhood and old age arrive, you 

 will have even less disposition to serve God than you now 

 have. The fetters which bind us to sinful habits, usually 

 strengthen with years, while boih the inclination and ability 

 to break them continually decrease. 



In the Spring, as soon as the weather becomes pleasant 

 enough for bees to fly, I carefully examine all hives which 

 do not exhibit unmistakable evidence of health and vigor. 

 If a queen is wanting, and the colony is small, I break it 

 up, and add the bees to another stock. If however, the 

 colony is very large, I prefer to unite with it a small stock 

 which has a healthy queen. 



If the queenless stock were supplied, so early in the sea- 

 son, with the means of raising another, there would be no 

 drones to impregnate her, and the whole operation would 

 prove a failure. It might be preserved until the season for 

 drones approaches, and then have a queen given to it, but it 

 would be in constant danger of being robbed or destroyed 

 by the moih, while the bees, if added to another stock, can 

 do far more service than if left to idleness in their old hive. 

 It must be remembered that I am not like most bee keepers,j 

 on the old plan, extremely anxious to save every colony,; 

 however feeble : as I can, at the proper season, form as 

 many as I want, and with far less trouble and expense than 

 are required to make anything out of such discouraged stocks. 



If any of my colonies are feeble in the Spring, but yet in 



