apes 
ta March, April, aud May. 127 
For I am confident, that when they are fully 
fed, they will breed faft, even in bad weather ; 
whereas, if they have little provifion of their 
own, and receive no extra fupply, they will 
breed very flowly. : 
From this, as well as from other peculiari- 
ties in the nature of thefe infects, it appears 
pretty evident, that they are endued with a 
high degree of free or voluntary agency, as 
they can breed early or late, frequently or {el- 
dom, at pleafure, and according to circum- 
ftances. All poffible attention, therefore, fhould 
be paid to the full feeding of bees in Spring, 
and alfo in the beginning of fummer, if the 
weather be unfavourable. 
A hive will fometimes lofe their Queen in 
fpring, and of courfe will go to ruin, as it will 
then be impoflible for the bees to raife another, 
if they have not an egg to raife one from. A 
hive may be known to be in this fad predica- 
ment, by the following fymptoms: The bees 
will 
to hatch their young families, early in the feafon. But fuch 
hives as weigh heavy in March or April, having plenty of honey, 
with bees in them carrying well, may be fafely allowed to 
remain without any frefh fupply of food, as they will profper 
without it ; although, if the owner has time and abundance of 
honey, he may reap additional profit by giving them a little. 
