He places the ladder against the limb of the tree and climbs it, carrying his rope and saw with him. The bees are too happy and too full of honey to sting him. He ties the rope about the limb near the bees and then saws off the end of the limb between the ladder and the rope. By means of the rope he lowers the bees to the ground. He climbs down and shakes the bees into the hive. He soon has the queen in the hive where most of the other bees immediately follow her. A few hang hack for a short time to enjoy their freedom from work a little longer, but they will soon join their comrades in the hive. They will not he separated from their queen if they can avoid it.

Bees In A Modern Hive

Let us enter the hive to see how these wild bees from the forest will act in the new home which man has built for them.

How different it is from the hole in the tree. Man has placed scaffolds and other things in the hive to help the bees in their work. Foundation wax has been placed across the top frame. Instead of long spaces to be filled with combs of honey, as in the tree, neat little boxes, many of which contain empty honey cells, are ready to be filled by the bees. How will the bees act in this strange home?

They form in circles and hum a happy tune when they learn their queen is safe. Then the call to work is sounded. They divide into groups like the bees in the tree did, and begin their duties. They accept the help which man has given them and begin to fill the empty cells or to make new ones from the wax which is on the top frame.

The queen passes from cell to cell. She carefully inspects each one before she enters it to lay her little blue-white egg. She then inserts her long body into the cell. When she comes out of it, a tiny egg is attached to the bottom of the cell by a sticky substance which she produces.

We leave the bees at their work, but we wonder at the wisdom which causes them to adjust themselves to such different conditions.

A Disturbance

We hear a buzzing roar at the hive entrance. What can it be? A shadow darkens the doorway. The guards rush forward as a giant bumble bee with a yellow body comes into the hive. What right has she here? No stranger is allowed within the gates of this city. In a moment the busy honey bees swing into action. A dozen lively guards fiercely attack the invader. In a few seconds she is a broken wingless creature. However, some of the honey bees have been killed in the fight. They have given their lives in loyalty to the whole colony.

"Where am I going to work? " did you "Over the fields and far away To the apple tree and the peach

For all the sweetness in my reach "