TO TELL STRONG COLONIES 31 



are likely to be so slow in building up that they will ]>e of little 

 value in storing surplus, unless they receive special attention. 



By walking through the apiary on a warm day at this season, 

 when the bees are active, one can readily pick out the strongest 

 colonies from the ap|)earance at the entrance of the hive. The 

 colonies showing the greatest activity at the entrance, especially 

 if the workers are carrying in large quantities of pollen, are the 

 ones to mark for further examination. The pollen balls are very 

 conspicuous on the legs of the workers, and one can thus see at 

 a glance something of the condition of the colony. The pollen is 

 mixed with honey, and used to feed the young bees. At this 

 season large quantities of brood insures a strong working force 



Fig. 17. — An apiary ready for shipment. 



a little later to gather the principal honey crop. As a rule, the 

 colonies Ijringing in the most pollen vnll be found to have the 

 most brood. 



After deciding from external appearances which colonies are 

 worthy of further examination, the hives should be opened to 

 see that the combs are straight, that there is a sufficient quantity 

 of honey to last until the main honey flow commences, and tliat 

 not too much drone comb is present, as this will necessitate its 

 removal to be replaced with full sheets of foundation. There 

 should, ordinarily, be about ten or fifteen pounds of honey in 



