The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-13
AGRICULTURAL.
The Honey Bee.
THE DaoNE, AND THE QUEEN.


habits OF these wonderful insects have been
carefully studied. Some persons have
spent their days in observing these busy
little animals.
Every association of bees has three kinds
the queen, the drone. and the workers
Il is estimated that hive usually contains
from six to twelve thousand bees. In some
small hives, however, the number is much
less than six thousand, while large ones
have been known to have as many as
twenty thousand.
There is only one queen bee in each
swarm. whether large or small. The av-
erage proportion of drones is about'filty TO
each thousand working bees. Hence.
about nineteen twenteths of the bees in
every hive are workers.
THE DRoNE.
The drones are the largest bees in the
family. Their bodies are thick, short. and
clumsy, and they are about the size Of two
working bees. Their wings are large and
long, and they make a loud, buzzing noise
when flying. They have no sting, and
may be handled without harm.
The drones are the male bees. They
live a life OF idleness, taking no part in the
labor OF the hive. Indeed, they have no,
the power to collect honey, or to provide
themselves with food. They have neither
honey-bags, such as the workers have. to
contain collected sweets, nor cavities up
on their legs for the pollen.
Were drone deprived Of the privilege
OF feeding on the stores of the hive it would
die. In one respect they have more lib
erty than the workers, for they are permit
ed to enter any hive, and live in the same
manner as their own.
The dfones appear in the hives during
the latter part of May, and are usually
killed or driven out to starve in the month
Of July. Sometimes few are permitted
10 remain much later in the season.
THE QUEEN BEE.
The queen bee is the mother of the fam
. ily. and governs the hive. She is longer
and more slender than the drone, but no,
aslarge, and is larger in every respect than
the worker. Her legs are longer. but her
wings are shorter in proportion than those
ofthe drone or worker.
The queen is very seldom seen. Some
times she may be observed during the
time Of swarmlng. She may occasionally
be found in her royal cell, when the bees
have been destroyed with smoke for the
purpose Of obtainig their honey.
The queen is majestic in her movements.
and is accompanied by guard compos-
ed OF twelve workers. This attendance is
taken in turn, and never neglected. Wher-
ever she goes the guards clear her path,
always turning their faces toward her with
the greatest respect.
She is armed with sting. but seldom
uses it, except against rival queens. She
may be taken in the bare hand. and will
seldom sting when handled carefully. A
worker, taken in the same manner, would
be dropped like piece of hot iron.
The chief Office of the queen is to lay
eggs, one of which she deposits in each
cell. These eggs are of two kinds-drone
eggs and worker-eggs. When worker.
egg is deposited in royal cell it becomes
queen bee. There are seldom more than
five or ten OF these cells in one hive.
The queen usually commences laying as
soon as the genial warmth Of spring comes
on. About the first OF May her ..great lay,
ing" takes place. when. she deposites from
one to. two hundred eggs per day. II
Wtttu ciiut0tcS euiS P~iAou u'"J soho PAs.Se
earlier.
All first she deposites only worker-eggs
then she lays drone-eggs for few days
and after this again produces worker-eggs
During the time Of laying the drone-egg'
the roual cells are built; and when The
queen commences laying worker-eggs fo
the second time, she deposiles. every few
days. one Of these eggs in royal cell, ant
from these the queens are produced.
The drones are produced from the egg
in twenty -four days. the workers in twent,
days. and the queens in sixteen days.
Though young queen bee has attain
ed its growth, the workers will not allow
20 come out of the cell as long as the oil
queen remains in the hive. Should th
yonng queen effect her escape from tn
cell, the old one would seize and kill he
immediately.
When the young queen has attained he
growth, and begins to say peep peep, tn
old one. knowing it TO be the cry Of ri
val for liberty, is aroused. and attempts t,
get at the royal cell to destroy its inmate
But the workers prevent her from doin.
this; and now, finding that she no longe
has absolute authority in the family, sh
commences sudden vibration OF he
wings, runs over every part OF the combs
followed by her subjects. and great com
motion ensnes.
When notice has thus been fairly com
municated TO the whole family, the queer
rushes toward the outlet, the wordi is giveI
te swarm, and away goSsie workers, as
pursued by ten thousand Toes.
While swarming they cluster around tn
queen, and wherever she alights, there tn
whole company im9sdiately settle. Th
old queen always flies off with the frs
swarm.
Aftsr the old queen has thus left the hiy'
the workers .rsiease the young one. Sh'
comes forth strong and full OF energy. ant
at once assumes the government OF th'
colony. lftIiere be We; enough OF workers
leltso that another swarm can be spared
ihs royal cells are still guarded by ths
workers.