WAX. 
125 
or it may be required for both purposes , but yet I 
have doubts if a particle is given to the jmung bee, be- 
sides what the honey contains. June, and first part of 
July, and most part of August (the season of buck- 
wheat,) are periods of extensive comb-making ; they 
then use most water; breeding is carried on from 
March till October, and as extensively in May, per- 
haps more so, than in August, yet not a tenth part of 
the water is used in May. 
I have known stocks repeatedly to mature brood 
from the egg to the perfect bee, when shut in a dark 
room for months, when it was impossible to obtain a 
drop ; also stocks that stand in the cold, (if good,) will 
mature some brood whether the bees can leave the 
hive or not. These facts prove that some are reared 
without water. As they get sufficient honey to re- 
quire more comb to store it, they will at the same 
time have a brood ; and it is easy to guess they need 
it for brood as comb, without a little investigation. 
This much is certain, that they use water atsuch times 
for some purpose, and when no pond, brook, spring, 
or other source is within convenient distance, the api- 
arian would find it economy to place some within their 
reach, as it would save much valuable time, if they 
would otherwise have to go a great distance, when 
they might be more profitably employed ; it always 
happens in a season of honey. It should be so situa- 
ted that the bees may obtain it without jeopardizing 
their lives ; — a barrel or pail has sides so steep that a 
great many will slip off and drown. A trough made 
very shallow, with a good broad strip around the edge 
