SPRING. 

 CHAPTER II. 



BREEDING. 

 REARING BROOD. 



In this latitude all strong stocks begin to rear 

 brood in January; indeed, in many cases they do not 

 entirely cease ; and I believe this is their natural 

 habit in climes most congenial to them. They begin 

 by depositing eggs in a circle on each side of a comb, 

 exactly opposite each other, and thus the heat is 

 economized and concentrated to the best possible ad- 

 vantage. I have frequently seen this circle not more 

 than an inch and a half in diameter, but the amount 

 is gradually increased toward spring ; and when the 

 weather becomes warm and the fruit tree flowers 

 expand, the quantity of brood is greatly augmented. 



Here, again, we are constrained to believe that the 

 bee possesses almost reasoning power. The colony is 

 being constantly reduced by the number dying off 

 during the winter, and in many cases if no young 

 ones were reared to supply their places, the colony 

 would become extinct before warm weather arrived ; 

 if but a small number is being constantly reared, it 

 serves to keep up the colony. It requires, says 

 Bevan, 70 degrees Fahrenheit to hatch the eggs, con- 

 sequently weak stocks can make but little progress 



(67) 



