FIFTY YEARS A^IONG THE BEES 



55 



had two out-ap,ar,es, one three n^Ues north at Jack Wil- 

 son's, on the old farm where my l^''*'^!'^? ,^°™ Vre- 

 nther five miles southeast at cousm Hastmgs . rre 

 rentlv I studied my book most of the way m gomg to one 

 <j th L apiaries, making my plans, and jottmg down 



be ehanged, dther through accident or mischievous de- 

 sign One disadvantage of the book is f^ cla"ger of for^ 

 .retting it. One may forget it at an out-apiary and then 

 have t^ make a special trip to get it. I've done that. 



SPRING OVER-H.\ULING. 



^fter the bees are hauled to the ""t-apiaries I am 

 ready for the spring overhauling as soon -^ \« ^f^^^ ' 

 ripht for it I do not want to open up the hives excepr 

 at at me when it is warm enough for bees to fly freely. 

 Too m^h danger of chilling the brood. Sometimes there 

 mav come one good day followed by a week of wea her 

 rb^d^r bees%o Av- So I may comme- overhaul ng 

 in \Dril and perhaps not till m May : and if 1 do com 

 meiKe in Iprill miy not get all done till well on m May. 



HIVE SE.\T. ■^ 



Having due regard to my own comfort, I want a 

 seat when I work a? a hive. Mr. Doohttle once tried to 

 "oe a little fun at me in convention, because I ace, 

 dentally admitted that I sat down to work at bees If 

 were obliged to work all the season without a seat, I 

 Im afraid- I would have to give up the business from 

 exharstion. Moreover, if I had the strength of a Sam- 



on i dSvt think I should waste it ^toopmg over hives 

 so long as I could get a seat. I generally have three or 

 four seats about the apiary, and they may not all be of 



he same kind. A common glass-box is more used than 



