96 VERMONT AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



of business, some will develop faster than others. More bees 

 can be kept in some localities than others. An occasional 

 visit to some practical apiarist will aid materially to suc- 

 cess. There will be ample scope for study, observation 

 and reasoning faculties. Study the habits and requirements 

 of the bees. Observe the flora of your vicinity. Find out 

 when the bees get the most honey and from what source and 

 how long' it continues ; then another season you may be able 

 to prepare to get the most from that source. 



Swarms should be kept strong in numbers and in normal 

 conditions. How to have a hive full of bees and ready for 

 action is as important as that a general of an army should 

 have his men in good health and spirits and under good disci- 

 pline when the enemy approaches. 



The honey season in Vermont is short at the best and the 

 time for procuring surplus honey is sometimes limited to a few 

 days, and in no occupation is the old maxim more true that 

 our dish should be right side up when it " rains porridge." 

 Even then there may come a season like the one just passed 

 (1899) in Vermont, when it docs not "rain" honey at all, 

 but such occasions are the exception rather than the rule. On 

 the other hand, there are seasons when the proceeds are great 

 in proportion to the labor and expense involved and anyone 

 contemplating this branch of farming: must expect success and 

 reverse to follow in quick succession. 



To those who are interested in the subject, perhaps a few 

 general directions as to the care of bees and honey may not 

 come amiss. Beginning in the spring as soon as the weather 

 is warm enough for the bees to fly freely and are gathering 

 pollen, and possibly honey, from the wild flowers, the hives 

 should be opened and examined to see that there is brood in 

 the combs, indicating the presence of a good laying queen; 

 also to see if there is plenty of honey (of which there should 

 have been an abundant supply the fall before), and if there is 

 an accumulation of dead bees or filth on the bottom of the 

 hive ; it will be a help to the bees to remove all. such. If a 

 swarm fails to have a good queen early in the season they 

 should be provided with one or failure is the inevitable result 

 If there is a lack of honey, there should be fed a sufficient 

 amount of honey or sugar syrup to encourage brood rearing, 

 for this is the time to work for increase of bees that the num- 

 ber may be sufficient to gather the honey which may come 

 later. Perhaps the most important requisites at this season 

 is a good queen and plenty of food. 



The apiarist should see that these conditions are kept up 

 till the main honey flow,, which in some seasons . does not 

 come until the middle or last of June in Vermont, and then the 



