Morrice, Mich., March 12, 1881.
=An Old Queen.=—We have had a couple of warm, bright days at last,
and my bees are flying, what of them are alive. Out of 33 colonies, I
think I have 10 or 12 alive, some of them pretty strong, others weak. I
have 3 Italian colonies—they seem strongest. What hives I have looked
into, where the bees are dead, appear to have plenty of honey, and the
other bees appear to be taking the honey out, and I fear are taking
from the weak colonies also. Should I prevent them from appropriating
it? I noticed some drones with one of my Italian colonies; what does
that mean at this time of year? I have been a short distance south,
returning home 3 weeks ago. There has been great loss of bees in
Fayette and Wayne counties, as well as in Wabash. Please answer above
questions in the BEE JOURNAL.