Issued May 23, 1911

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.

FARMERS' BULLETIN 447.

BEES.

BY

E. F. PHILLIPS, Ph. D.,

In Charge of Bee Culture, Bureau of Entomology.

WASHINGTON:

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.

1911.

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

U. S. Department or Agriculture,

Bureau of Entomology,

Washington. D. C., March 4, 1911.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a manuscript entitled "Bees," by E. F. Phillips, Ph. D., in charge of bee culture in this bureau.

This paper will supersede Farmers' Bulletins 59 and 397, A few new illustrations which add greatly to the value of the paper and some minor alterations in the text are the only changes in this from Farmers' Bulletin 397; but since it is not now the policy of the department to issue revised editions, it is recommended that this bulletin be issued under a new serial number.

In the preparation of this paper the aim has been to give briefly such information as is needed by persons engaged in the keeping of bees, and to answer inquiries such as are frequently received from correspondents of the department. No attempt has been made to include discussions of bee anatomy, honey plants, or the more special manipulations sometimes practiced, such as queen rearing. The discussion of apparatus is necessarily brief. Respectfully,

L. O. Howard,

Entomologist and Chief of Bureau.

Hon, James Wilson,

Secretary of Agriculture.

CONTENTS.