76 MINER S AMERICAN 



times sends off a swarm, that in such a case, drones are 

 necessary; consequently, nature has ordained, that a 

 thousand queens shall continue to produce drones, and 

 then cast them out half developed, in order to ensure 

 safety to one family that throws off a swarm ; for, not 

 more than one swarm in a thousand does cast a swarm 

 the same season. On the whole, this feature of the case 

 appears reasonable ; because it is the same principle of 

 nature, that is manifested in the production of 500 or 

 1000 drones, to render the fertility of a queen sure, 

 when a single drone would be sufficient, if that drone 

 could be made, through the instinct of his nature, to be 

 on hand, when occasions should demand his services. 



YOUNG aUEENS PRODUCE FEW OR NO DRONE-BROOD. 



In the case of a swarm sending off -a swarm the same 

 season, it is always "a first issue that contains the old 

 queen; and it is she that produces drone-brood; since 

 drones in such a case, would be absolutely necessary to 

 . impregnate the virgin queen. But with young queens, the 

 case is very different, and they produce few or no drones 

 during the first season of their existence ; but after the 

 first season, they produce the regular number. 



POSITION OF EGGS OR LARV.«!. 



The position of eggs and larvse in weak families, 

 where every degree of heat must be economically hus- 

 banded, is worthy of remark. In well-peopled hives, 

 the queen deposits her eggs in such locations as may 

 be free from honey and pollen, without any regard to 



