THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 95 



BEGINNERS DEPARTMENT 



IVhat To ©o Each Month 



This Department ivill be a perniaiieiit feature for the year 1913. Whether 

 it is continued after that, or not, will 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 ivJiat you want. If this Department is not wanted it will 

 not be continued. 



MARCH— Northern States. 



Jksse II. R.()DERTS, Watseka, Il[.. 



March is one of the most trying" and severe months of the year 

 in this latitude. The alternate sunshine and clouds together with 

 the cold winds destroy thousands of bees by alluring them out of 

 the hives, and the}^ then become so chilled that they are unable to 

 return. This is one of the main causes of spring dwindling which is 

 so much feared by the northern bee men. It is almost impossible 

 to prevent the bees from leaving the hive, when the sun is warm, 

 even though the air is cold. There are, howe\'er, some fine days in 

 March, and these should be utilized to their full extent. Feed your 

 bees rye meal by placing it in shallow boxes in a sunny spot near 

 the apiary. They soon find it and carry in large quantities for their 

 young brood. To start them to work on it, put a drop of oil of 

 annise on it, and have the meal ground fine and unbolted. When 

 the natural pollen comes, then stop the meal. I'hey should also be 

 fed a thin sugar syrup to stimulate to breed strongly. 



The best feeder is the Alexander or the Entrance feeder. Feed 

 regular when the weather is warm for the bees to carry it into the 

 hives. See that the hives are cleaned out and all dead bees removed. 

 Also contract weak swarms by inserting a division board thus mak- 

 ing the brood chamber warmer, for the warmer they are the stronger 

 thev will breed. 



MARCH — Southwestern States. 

 By Henry C. Barrox, Hagerman, X. M. 

 \Mth perhaps a day or two of exception the southwestern states 

 will have bid the winter good-bye and have Avelcomed the ever re- 

 turning beautiful spring. 



The bee-keeper should now examine each and every colony. 

 If there are several found that are very weak in hees, two or more 

 should be united as the case may be, alwavs saving the loest queen. 



