180 



THE AMEEICAN BEE JOUENAL AFD GAZETTE. 



MOI^THLY MANAGEMENT. 



Marcli. 



If, as is frequently the case in northern dis- 

 tricts, the weather did not permit a revision of 

 the hives to be made in Fcl)ruary, tlie earliest 

 opportunity that occurs in this month should be 

 used to give them a thorough examination. On 

 the first mild day that permits the bees to fly, 

 every straw or box-hive should be gently 

 raised, and all the droppings and dead bees re- 

 moved. The latter should be carefully examined 

 to ascertain whether there is not a dead queen 

 among them; and if one is found, the colony 

 be immediately united with some other that has 

 a queen. This can be easily done by setting it 

 on the one to wliich it is to be united, and open- 

 ing a communication between them through 

 the top of the latter. The droppings fouud on 

 the bottom-board should be brushed^into a box, 

 as they contain much wax, and in a large api- 

 ary the saving thus made is an object worth at- 

 tention. The mass can be put in a coarse bag 

 in boiling water, and, Avhen melted, the wax can 

 be pressed out by wringing, and lifted off in a 

 solid cake when cold. The bottom-boards 

 should be well cleaned, and, if possibly, dried 

 before replacing them, which can be accom- 

 plished by the use and substitution of a few 

 extra boards kept for the purpose. 



The occasion should also be used to ascertain 

 whether any of the colonies need supplies of 

 food. When this is wanted, the best article 

 that can be given is sugar-candy, if it can be 

 placed directly on the combs through an open- 

 ing in the top of the hive— covering the opening 

 with a woolen cloth to confine the heat, and 

 prevent the entrance of robbers. If the candy 

 cannot be introduced through the top, sticks of 

 it may be inserted among the clustered bees, by 

 gently pushing it among them between the 

 combs from below. The next best article for 

 feeding is pure liquid honey somewhat diluted 

 with water, introduced below in the hive on a 

 shallow dish or feeding through. 



This, however, must be used only in the eve- 

 ning and at night, removing the vessels again 

 early in the morning, that robbing bees may 

 not be attracted to the ruin of the colony. 

 When liquid honey is fed, as much should be 

 given at one dose as the bees can carry up 

 during the night, and the feeding repeated 

 only at intervals of two or three days, till the 

 season enables the bees to supply themselves 

 abroad. 



This revision of stock is much more easdy 

 and efiectually accomplished where bees are 

 kept in movable comb-hives. On removing the 

 honey-board, a single glance usually sultices to 

 show the condition of a colony as to its health 

 and supplies. The frames can be lifted out, 

 and the dead bees and droppings removed, 

 mouldy combs taken away, combs with sealed 

 honey inserted, and the hive closed again in a 

 brief space of time, with the gratification of 

 knowing precisely how matters stand. And 

 where a colony is fouud to be queeuless, the 



bees and combs may be quickly distributed, 

 among other stocks, strengthening the weaker, 

 and converting even mishaps to benefit. 



As the season advances, and the bees are 

 enabled to fly, while yet pollen does not abound, 

 it is advantageous to place wheat-flour or rye- 

 meal where the bees can readily have access to 

 it. It should be put in the ceils of some old 

 drone-comb, or in a shallow wooden box, and 

 set in some nook not exposed to driving winds 

 or strong currents of air. The bees can be at- 

 tracted to the spot by placing there also a plate 

 containing honey or sugar-water. These 

 should be replenished as long as the water or 

 flour and meal are carried away by the bees. 



We would not advise new beginners to resort 

 to stimulative feeding. It is a matter requiring 

 great judgment to determine when to do it, 

 and demanding special care in the doing. With- 

 out this it may prove to be an entire waste of 

 time and honey. 



— > ^ t — 



As THE poison of bees exhales a penetrating 

 odor, Huber was curious to observe the eficct 

 it might have on them. Having extracted the 

 sting of a bee with its appendages impregnated 

 with poison, he presented it to some workers 

 which were settled very quietly at the entrance 

 of their mansion. Instantaneously the little 

 party was alarmed; none, however, took 

 flight; but two or three darted upon the poi- 

 soned instrument, and one angrily attacked the 

 observer. When, however, the poison became 

 coagulated, they were not in the least afi"ected 

 by it. A tube impregnated with the odor of 

 poison recently ejected being presented to them, 

 alTected them in the same manner. This cir- 

 cumstance may sometimes occasion battles 

 amongst them, not otherwise easy to be ac- 

 counted for. 



It^" Owing to some inadvertance, the sub- 

 joined cut was inserted in our last number 

 without the proper references. We therefore 

 re-insert it, supplying the omissions. 



