II Sept., 1911.] Spri}ig Management of Bees. 615 



red hot without injury to it ; but, if it is required to reduce tlie size of the 

 metal to any great extent, then the welding heat must be employed, other- 

 wise the fibres of the bar become separated. Reducing the size is called 

 ■draiuing out. 



The welding heat is recognized by the colour the iron assumes. As the 

 temperature increases, the metal first becomes dark red, then light red, 

 orange, and finally sparkling w'hite. No instruments are needed to register 

 the heat, the colours alone enabling one to judge by sight. In no case 

 should iron be allowed to remain in the fire after the welding point has 

 been reached, because it becomes burnt and wastes away. 



Mild Steel is practically iron, but is produced by a different method 

 t(. the wrought iron. It is of a granular structure and possesses greater 

 strength than wrought iron. It can be welded, but requires greater skill 

 to do .so. Mild steel is largely used for all structural purposes, on account 

 -of its great strength. It can be bent, twisted, and punched, the same as 

 iron, but is harder to work. One advantage to blacksmiths is that mild 

 steel will not split like iron, if hammered out at a lower temperature than 

 the wielding heat. 



Cast steel is produced by chemically combining carlxjn and wrought 

 iron, which entirely alters its nature. It becomes granular in structure, 

 and has a greater strength than mild steel or iron. It possesses the pro- 

 perty of becoming hard if suddenly cooled, which property makes it so 

 valualjle for the manufacture of tools. It is unlike iron and mild steel, 

 inasmuch as it cannot be welded, excepting when of a low grade and even 

 then great skill is requisite. When dealing subsequently with the manu- 

 facture and re])air of tools a great deal more information will be given 

 concerning the (effect that heat and cooling have upon it. 



{To be continued.) 



SPRING MANAGEMENT OF 15EES. 



F. R. Biulnic, Bee Expert. 



During the first or second week of September, all hiws should l>e ex- 

 amined for the purpose of .seeing whether each one has sufficient food, a 

 laying queen, and enough bees to enable it to work up into a i)rofitable 

 colony. 



This examination should be made only on fine mild days, otherwise 

 harm will be done to weak stocks, by letting the warmth escape when open- 

 ing the hi\e and by causing the bees to fly and become chilled. Having 

 lighted the smoker, blow one or two whiffs of smoke in at the entrance, 

 lift the cover at one end. and blow a few puffs of smoke o\"er the top of 

 the frames. When fjuilts .ire used l)etween covers and frames, hives can 

 be o[)ened with less disturbance, less smoke is needed, and it is con- 

 sequently easier to find tin- queens. 



Ihe amount of stores is the first consideration at this time of year, but 

 no iiard and fast rule can lie laid down as to the actual weight of honey 

 requirei] to maintain and develop the colony. 'J'he (|uantity depends upon 

 the number of bees in the hi\e. the length of lime which may elap.se lit^'ore 

 th( y e;ui find sufficient new nectar in the blossoms of the immediately sur- 

 rounding country, and the weather conditions prevailing during the follow- 

 ing four or (we weeks. In no case, however, even under the most favour- 

 able circumstances, should there l>e less than 5 lbs. of honey (equal to 



