BREEDING. 
81 
but very little about this point. I wish to induce 
closer observation, and would recommend no positive 
decision, until all the facts that will apply have been 
examined. Whether these drone-egg theories have 
been too hastily adopted, the reader can decide ; I 
shall offer a few more facts, somewhat difficult to 
reconcile with them. 
First, in relation to the queeen being “eleven 
months old” before laying drone eggs. We all agree, 
I believe, that the old queen goes with the first swarm, 
and a young one remains in the old stock. Now sup- 
pose the first swarm leaves in June, and the old stock 
yet contains a numerous family. The flowers of 
buckwheat in August yield a bountiful harvest of 
honey. This old stock rears a large brood of drones. 
Is it not proved in this case that the queen was but 
two months old, instead of eleven ? We further agree 
that young queens accompany second or after-swarms. 
When these happen to be large and prosperous, they 
never fail to rear a brood of drones at this season. 
What is the age of these? I apprehend that this 
eleven months theory originated in sections where 
there are no crops of buckwheat raised, or in small 
quantities. Clover generally fails in August, and 
May, or June, of another year comes round, before 
there is a sufficient yield to produce the brood. With 
these observations only , how very rational to.conclude 
that it must be a law of their nature, instead of being 
governed by the yield of honey, and size of the 
family ? If the periods . of drone egg laying are 
limited to only two or three, it would seem that all 
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