New-York tribune., 1908-12-27
LAYING IN SUPPLIES.

This marks the completion Of one stage OF the
work and then the scene changes, Tor the nexs
step-the gathering of supplies-must be done
above ground. And now our bee haunts the
earlv blossoms and size gathers pollen in basket
loads-leg- baskets. Of course-and crop LOADS o.
nectar and unloads them in that newly con-
str1scted brood cell-not helter SHELTER by any
means but carefully mixed and combined one
Win the other SO as to form a pasty OF
exactly the right consistency for the nourish-
rlent Of the future larve- Just how long 1t
requires to ill such a cell We have no means or
determining at present; but the insects are in
t3efatjeable collectors and make many journeys
from flowers 10 burrows each day At any
rate the work is done at last when the cell is
g little more than half full Of the sweets, and
then an egg is very carefully laid. attached TO
rte side of the cell, but with the tip OF one
end resting on the surface Of the honey paste.
Now IL so happens that that end OF the egg IS
always where the mouth of the newly hatched
grub is to be found, and hence it has abso-
luteIy nothing to do but simply suck, as often
and as persistently as it likes.
But that Is really getting ahead OF my story.
for the egg does not hatch for a month. ana
meanwhile the mother bee, having PROVIDED LOT
one baby closes the end Of the cell with a
PARTITION Of dried saliva, backs up a little
sand against the partition. then commends 1t
to Providence, and starts a new lateral from
SONS point q little higher UP in the vertical
shaft She does not bother now about carrying
cut the sand from this new gallery. 1t is
simply allowed 10 drop down into the lower enc
Of the shaft and to run into the lowest lateral.
The insect really wants that lower portion
filed UP, and she dumps all her new diggings
down 20 protect and conceal her first born These
cells by the bye when completed and filled,
remind frTesisttbly OF q -32-calibre pistol
cartridge with the projecting rim taken off.
The second gallery almost always runs IN
direction different from the first and it is
rieted in the same way A third and sometimes
a fourth are then built. each a little higher
I'D until the last IS about foot below the
surface. have found laterals nearer the
face but rarely, and 20 be considered excep-
tioaaI occurrences. When the last lateral is
loaded the digger, while she does not bother TO
fill the remaining portion OF the shaft, leaves
II Oman and IN such condition that It is readily
nYled with drifting sand and packed by rains
until except for 8 slight surface discoloration
d,s 4n the clay brought from below, there Is
nothing 10 indicate that ever a burrow existed
tn that locality Nevertheless. within radius
O. sly inches from that centre and at depths
varying from ] TO 25k feet, anywhere from 10
4 ~ loaded bee cartridges are to be found
A s5ngis burrow is not the limit Of a bees
activity Assuming that she is not a victim 10
some nredatory enemy, she may complete sew
ersl sn6 may dig something like ten feet OF
shsft and tunnel before she dies from exhaus-
ton
and now what happens after the parent bee
IS DEAD and gone and only the seed she planted
remains? The burrows having become filled by
ezad our plaster process, which has enabled
ne "a 1cIlaR pvtrsll Ihs dsinEs OF 41E Dee "a