The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-10-03

eighteen, but even II the colony is of
the strongest, rarely more than four
queens are allowed to come to ma
turity.
Eggs are chosen from one to four
days old, so that the Matching of the |
queens do not occur simultaneously. |
There is great diversity of opinion as
to whether the egg is chosen by the
bees and placed in the cells, or whether
the queen lays it there. My opinion |
is this, that when the bees find the egg
in suitable place they tear away the
adjoining cells. forming q large cell of
the wax; yet often for economy's sake,
they remove the egg to the edge of the
comb where the wax is more plentiful,
the combs being always thickest on
the edges. The attention that these
cells receive from the moment they are
commenced is very great; not second
but a bee is peeping in, and on coming
out another goes in, some just to see,
Others to carry jelly. From three to
five may be seen building up the sides
or smoothing the wax that others are
bringing.
In selecting queen cells for artificial
swarming, always choose the heavi-
est and darkest, as these always con-
tain the finest queens. The jelly with
which these cells are supplied differs
from the common jelly in being more
acid; when first put in the cells it re-
sembles starch, but grows darker from
age. DIR. Wetherell, of Philadelphia,
gives an interesting analysis of it and
says 1t Is ga truly bread, containing
albuminous compound" 1t is of
certainly much stronger and more in
vigorating than the jelly fed to the
common worker, as it causes the lavra
to grow third larger and comes sew
eral days earlier to maturity. Its
whole shape and nature is changed.
Its head is larger and rounder, and on
Its thorax sits distinct crown; its
body is much longer and of a lighter
color; there is no appearance of the re-
ceptacles for secreting wax; its baskets
are not developed for carrying pollen.
So great is the whole change that it
sounds like fable, like a fairy tale
that is hard for one to believe-how
that an egg intended for a common
worker can by some strange process be
changed to queen? By this it is
proved that a worker bee Is the female,
| but dWarfed by some unaccountable
nature. The egg from which the queen
| is reared, if left to mature a worker,
will be hard working, quick, active,
attentive to the wants of its home and
revengeful to intruders; whereas, given
room to grow, forced in its growth, fed
with substance alike, yet unlike, the
common food, it makes large wasp
like bee, totally unlike its sisters, over
whom it reigns with despotic will. If
their stings are developed have never
proved it, yet have held many a
| one with my hand closed around her.
The opening of these queen cells
differ thus: If the queen natures and
cuts out all right, the head of the cell
is cut around and taken away resem-
bling miniature saucer, and L have
often been apprised of the presence of
young queens by finding these cups
thrown out In front of the hives. If it
is the desire of the bees to destroy the
other queens they tear the cell open at
the side, its full length, and then pull
the nymph from its place.
| How short a time, comparatively, is
1t since these things were to the world
dark mysteries. How many thanks,
how much honor is due those like
Langstroth, Beran, Quinby, and many
others who have spent SO much time
and patience in the study of one of the
| many wonders of this earth. Some of
them call the workings of bees instinct,
some reason, but draw me, who can,
ga line where instinct ends and reason
begins.' AHMo.