26 BI7LLETIX 1349, "C. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGBICITLTITEE 
CONDITIONS WITHIN THE HTVE 
The value of insulation in early spring is not demonstrated clearly 
in the case of these colonies because virtually summer weather pre- 
vailed in March, thus producing conditions within the colonies which 
tended to offset in a measure any evil effects of the cold weather in 
early April. Unfortunately, too, the colonies (Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 
16) which were left packed until May suffered from lack of room just 
at the time of the unfavorable weather, so that no comparison may 
be made with 'them. Of the colonies left all'winter without packing 
four (Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8) present such abnormal conditions due both 
to lack of room and to failing queens as to offer little light on this 
subject. The other four colonies, which were not packed for winter, 
however, did not suffer from lack of room, and, although each dif- 
fered as to prolificness of queen and colony population, each shows a 
break in brood rearing associated with the cold weather of the fore 
part of April. Colony No. 4, nevertheless, had sufficient bees to 
overcome quickly the effect of this weather and to proceed to the 
maximum brood-rearing activity of the year. Although the brood- 
rearing activity of three of the colonies (Nos. 9, 10, and 12) unpacked 
in March appeared to be somewhat restricted during early April, the 
later performance of the queens in these colonies and the fact that no 
great decrease in brood-rearing activity immediately took place, indi- 
cate that sufficient bees were on hand to keep up the temperature of 
the brood area in its entire extent at that time, and even to have 
cared for a larger area had the queen been capable of increased egg 
laying. The brood area of the other colony (No. 11) which was un- 
packed in March shows a decided restriction following the cold 
weather. Although a comparison of the direct effect of adequate 
insulation on brood rearing can not be made from the brood records 
of these colonies in 192 1, the fact remains that the colonies minus 
packing which were most normal did suffer a setback in brood rearing 
as a result of the cold weather. A strong colony without packing, 
like No. 4, shows, however, a certain amount of resistance to the 
effects of such weather. 
CONDITIONS OF THE COLONY 
The influence on brood rearing of the three important factors, 
prolificness of queen, colony population, and brood cells available, 
becomes so interwoven in certain colonies that it is hard to trace the 
separate influence of each. The important part played by colony 
population in determining when the maximum brood-rearing activitv 
of the season will take place is well illustrated by colony No. 2, which 
reached the maximum of the brood-rearing season relatively late. In 
this colony lack of population was beginning to restrict the brood 
area somewhat, even in late March. Population of colony accom- 
plishes little in itself if the queen is not prolific. The brood records 
of colonies Nos. 3, 7, and 8 all attest this fact. It so happened that 
each of these queens had been introduced two seasons previously. 
On the other hand, the queen of colony No. 4. in 1922, the second 
season after her introduction, made as good a record as in 1921. 
This shows that in certain instances, at least, the value of a queen 
can not be determined merely by her age. 
