SOUTHERN BEE CULTURE 33 



If it is desired to make an inspecting-tour over the apiary, one or two 

 of the center frames are all that is necessary to be removed to reveal the 

 condition of the colony. This can be done by lifting out the'-division-board, 

 or one frame on the outside, and then prying the others away from the 

 frame we wish to inspect, and lift it out; and the inspection of this frame 

 should show the colony to be in good condition (plenty of eggs and food in 

 all stages of development in it, as other colonies have, although sometimes 

 bees don't carry much brood; and if this be the case none of them will be 

 carrying much), but if the inspection of this frame is not satisfactory, lift 

 out the next one; and if that i§, set it back in' the hive carefully, and set the 

 outside frame or division-board back in the hive, and wedge thfe frames up 

 and put on the cover; but if the inspection shows the colony not to be in 

 good condition, lay something on the cover. ' When all the colonies have 

 been thus examined, then turn back and supply the needs of those that are 

 not in a thriving condition. If they need stores, give them a frame of honey 

 from some colony which may have it to spare, or feed them (see "Feeding"). 

 If there are no eggs or brood in the hive when there should be, give them 

 a frame of brood, for they may have lost their queen, or there may be a 

 young queen in the hive which has not begun to lay yet. Inspect the frame 

 of brood next day; and if they have started queen-cells, give them another 

 queen as soon as possible, or a ripe queen-cell, or you can put them to rais- 

 ing them another queen (see 'Queen-rearing"). If the bees do not start 

 queen-cells, there is a young queen in the hive which should begin to lay in 

 a few days ; but examine the hive often as possible, and see that they do have 

 a queen. 



Then, again, if the colony should have plenty of stores (remember, a 

 good queen without plenty of stores can not keep up her colony), but be 

 behind the average in eggs and brood, then the queen is old or failing, and 

 another one should be given the colony, also one or two frames of sealed 

 brood, if the colony has run down any. Strong colonies should never 

 dwindle down if they are kept supplied with stores and young prolific queens ; 

 but should any colonies run down in bees they should be given frames of 

 sealed brood from strong colonies from time to time. 



The observant bee-keeper can soon learn the needs of his bees, and how 

 to supply them by handling or manipulating the frames containing the comb 

 of his bees, changing and interchanging them from hive to hive from time 

 to time over his apiary. 



APIARY WORK. 



To give a modern apiary the necessary attention to prolong the existence 

 of all colonies, and to obtain the greatest amount of surplus honey possible, 

 requires more time and work during the year than the average bee-keeper 

 may suspect; but the bulk of the work comes at intervals just before and dur- 



