18 Farmers’ Bulletin 1216. 
will also be a tendency for the old queens to reduce the number of 
eggs laid daily, thus causing the colonies not to be in the best condi- 
tion for the buckwheat honey-flow. In the absence of a clover honey- 
flow it is most desirable that these strong colonies be utilized to the 
fullest extent, and to this end these bees should be used to rear many 
times more young worker bees for the buckwheat harvest, since there 
is fortunately ample time for this to be done. A failure to take ad- 
vantage of this possibility has greatly reduced the buckwheat honey- 
crop. Since it takes about six weeks for the development of a colony 
of young bees from each part of a divided colony, it is possible in this 
region to follow the plan here outlined. 
After the colonies of bees have built up almost to full strength, the 
beekeeper of the buckwheat region is called upon to determine his 
future work of the year, based on the probability of getting a crop 
of honey from the clovers or some other honey-source blooming in 
June. There will be two possibilities: 
(1) Prospect of no surplus clover honey-flow (a) because of a fail- 
ure for the year or (b) because the clovers do not normally secrete 
nectar in the locality due to their absence or to the peculiarities of 
the soil. In this event, each colony may be divided into two or more 
colonies and the queenless colonies given young queens which will 
begin laying not later than June 15. Unless permanent increase in 
the number of colonies is desired, the less desirable queens are killed 
and the parts of the original colony are united August 15. 
If there is no prospect of a surplus honey-crop from the clovers in 
the locations now occupied by the beekeeper, he may sometimes be 
able to find other locations within moving distance to which the bees 
may be moved to take advantage of these sources. 
This migratory beekeeping has not been practiced extensively by 
the beekeepers of the buckwheat region, but with fuller development 
of the area it is to be expected that this practice will increase, as it 
already has in other parts of the country. The presence of Euro- 
pean foulbrood has been considered a drawback to this practice, 
but if the proper methods are used this may be entirely disregarded. 
In fact there is no better way to overcome this disease than to move 
to places where the bees may take advantage of an early honey-flow. 
This is the practice of many beekeepers of the European foulbrood 
regions of California. 
(2) Prospect of surplus honey-flow from clovers, perhaps aug- 
mented by basswood in July. No increase should be made in June. 
Each colony should be requeened in connection with swarm control, 
but this should be done for every colony not later than June 15, so 
that the young queens will begin laying not later than June 25. If 
permanent increase is needed, this should be made by devoting cer- 
