LOSS OE QUEENS. 225 



with writers who tell us that all labor will now 

 cease. I hope the reader will not be deceived by sup- 

 posing that because the bees are bringing in pollen, 

 that they must have a queen ; I can assure you it is 

 not always the case." 



THE RESULT. 



"The number of bees will gradually decrease, and 

 be all gone by the early part of winter, leaving a 

 good supply of hoqey, and an extra quantity of bee- 

 bread, because there has been no young bees to 

 consume it. This is the case when a large family 

 was left at the time of the loss. When but few bees 

 are left, it is very different ; the combs are unpro- 

 tected by a covering of bees ; the moth deposits her 

 eggs on them, and the workers soon finish up the 

 whole. Yet the bees from the other stocks w T ill 

 generally first remove the honey." 



To this I would add, as a preventive, place upon 

 or immediately before each hive that has cast a 

 swarm, or is likely to have a young, unimpregnated 

 queen, something that will make a distinctive mark, 

 to enable her to distinguish her own hive. This 

 precaution is highly necessary, especially where hives 

 stand close together, in the apairy. Care should be 

 taken in removing honey boxes, when the openings 

 are above the main breeding department, as the queen 

 frequently ascends into them, and is often taken off 

 in this manner and lost. Each box should be marked 

 before removing, so it can be returned to the same 

 place. If the bees refuse to leave it within twenty-four 

 hours after it is taken off, which is a sure indication 



