BEE-KEEPBU'a MANUAL. 51 



questions, and they generally took great pains to give 

 me all the information in their power ; for I never ven- 

 tured to play the teacher, but humbly and civilly re- 

 ceived instruction from them, such as they were able to 

 impart, being a stereotype of the management that was 

 in vogue centuries ago, to a great extent. 



I had the pleasure of meeting with many apiarians, 

 who have not despised to read and learn. One gentle- 

 man opened the chamber of one of his hives, and to my 

 surprise, drew forth several volumes on the management 

 of bees, which he was accustomed to study, under the 

 balmy shade of 'the surrounding trees. I found, on the 

 whole, a spirit of inquiry abroad on the subject, and 

 many had been the willing victims in the purchase of a 

 variety of patent hives — not one of which answers the 

 purpose, as recommended 1 



One gentleman said that he would give a large sum 

 of money, if his bees were out of a lot of patent hives, 

 and back in his old-fashioned boxes; and I found the 

 same desire prevalent among almost every one, who had 

 embarked in patents, to any great extent of time. 



WHEN DRONES APPEAR AND DISAPPEAR. 



Dr. Bevan says, " the drones make their appearance 

 about the end of April, and are never to be seen after 

 the middle of August, except under very peculiar cir- 

 cumstances." 



In my experience, I have found that the drones do 

 not appear, to any great extent, until the latter part of 

 May ; and the general massacre takes place in July, and 



