24 THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



BEGINNERS DEPARTMENT 



What To ©o Each Month 



This Departiiiciit zvill be a permanent feature for the year 1913. ll'helher 

 it is continued after that, or not, zcill depend upon how it is received by the 

 subscribers. This paper is being published for your interest, and it is our 

 desire to give you zvhat you zcant. If this Department is not zvanted it zcill 

 not be continued. 



There zvill be another contributor, and possibly tii'o. to begin zvitJi the 

 February number in this Department. Mr. Wilder zvill conduct a Southern 

 Department, and I am trying to get one for the Xorthzvcstem states. 



JANUARY— Northern States. 



By Jessf: H. Robp:rts. 



As this is usually the coldest month of the year, little can be 

 done with the bees. In the northern states they seldom get a fly 

 during this month. 



Should there be plenty of snow it would be good to heap it up 

 all around your hives. There is no danger of smothering them, as 

 I did this when living in Wisconsin. The snow is porous enough 

 to admit all the air that is necessary for the bees. This protects 

 the hives from the cold winds. Should there be a break so that 

 they could fly, scatter a little straw about the hives so they do not 

 light on the snow and get chilled. 



If you winter in a cellar you can do little with your bees. 

 Poke the dead bees out of the entrance every week. Xow is the 

 time to prepare hives, and post yourself thoroughly, by means of 

 good books and bee journals devoted to the subject. Do not dis- 

 turb the bees when the weather is cold — do not thump on the hives 

 nor lift ofif the cover to see if they are alive. This is very injurious, 

 as the bees fill themselves with honey, causing dystentary. 



JANUARY— New England and Eastern United States. 



By Burton X. Gates. 



.issistaiit Professor of Hcc-Kecpiiii:;, Massachusetts A'^riciiltiiral Collc\;:;i.\ 



The seasonal fluctuations of New England mid-winter are 

 frequently of concern to bee-keepers. Until the 8th of December, 

 191',?, the month was unusually warm. On the 6th bees flew from 

 8:30 until 4:30. This exceptional weather may be slightly disastrous 

 from the fact tliat within the next forty-eight hours the thermometer 

 registered below 10° Fahrenheit. It typifies the extremes to which 

 bees in this locality are subjected. 



