MONTHLY CALENDAR. 621 



- should be taken with caution ; the stock should be left with not less thar 

 twenty pounds, otherwise they must be fed or lost. When the stocks ar 

 weak, of course no honey can be spared. 



1628. At tno end of August begin to prepare for taking up extra hives, 

 ■ascertain which of the hives are strongest and healthiest, for these only should 

 be kept. Activity in carrying in pollen, vigorous blowing at the entrance, 

 irritability on tapping at the hive, a sweet and luscious odour issuing from the 

 entrance, resentment of the attacks of strange insects, are all signs of health 

 and strength. Where such signs do not exist, most likely the stock is weak or 

 the queen has died without having a successor ; such hives should not be kept 

 but joined to better ones. About this time the services of the drones are no 

 longer required, and as their consumption of food is considerable, the bees 

 proceed to eject them from the hives, and when once out they soon perish. 

 The numbers lying about frequently alarm the inexperienced bee-keeper, 

 who fancies that a sudden destruction has come upon his hive. 



^C^^Xi^'-^ -^ 



