64 
BREEDING. 
weather cold enough to seal the entrance with ice, and 
smother the bees. I assisted to remove the combs, and 
found young brood in abundance, from the perfect 
bee, through all stages of growth. This stock had 
been in the cold all winter. I have further noticed, 
when sweeping out the litter under the hives early in 
spring, say the first of March, that young bees would 
often be found under the best stocks. Hence it ap- 
pears there is but little time, and perhaps none, when 
our best stocks have no brood. Yet stocks, when 
very weak, do not commence till warm weather. It 
seems that a certain degree of warmth is necessary to 
perfect the brood, which a small family cannot gen- 
erate. 
now SMALL STOCKS COMMENCE. 
* 
The first eggs are deposited in the centre of the 
cluster of bees, in a small family ; it may not be in 
the centre of the hive in all cases ; but the middle of 
the cluster is the warmest place, wherever located. 
Here the queen will first commence ; a few cells, or a 
space not larger than a dollar, is first used, those 
exactly opposite on the same comb are next occupied. 
If .the warmth of the hive will allow, whether mild 
weather produces it, or the family be large enough to 
generate that which is artificial, appears to make no 
difference ; she will then take the next combs exactly 
corresponding with the first commencement, but not 
quite as large a place is used as in the first comb. The 
circle of eggs in the first is then enlarged, and more 
are added in the next, &c., continuing to spread to the 
