THE BEE-KEEPERS* REVIEW 137 



father? Please look up. hunt up, and answer me that? Wherein, 

 also, is Dr. Bonney wrong on condition of the swarm for big honey 

 crop? 



BEGINNERS DEPARTMENT 



What To 'Do Each Month 



This Department will be a peruianent 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 zvhat you want. If this Department is not wanted it will 

 not be continued. 



APRIL — New England and Eastern United States. 



By Burton N. Gates. 



Assistant Professor of Bce-Ivccpiiig. .]fassacliiisctfs Agricultural College, 



Amherst, Mass. 



Bees will have commenced their regular flights in April. By 

 due precaution against robbing at this season, frequently the spread 

 of much bee disease may be overcome. Small colonies should have 

 their entrances contracted sufficiently to allow them to guard their 

 stores. It will be advisable to keep close watch of 3^our stock to pre- 

 vent dwindling. Should a colony dwindle, extra precautions are nec- 

 essary in order to prevent robbing and thereby a possible source of 

 infection. Make sure that no empty hives remain in the yard. Bee- 

 keepers in Massachusetts may communicate with the writer concern- 

 ing violation of this restriction. 



Judicious stimulative feeding, by either hard or soft candy or 

 syrup, will usually prove advantageous at this season. Bee-keepers 

 will be interested in looking up the soft candy method of Mr. O. F. 

 Fuller, which appears in this issue of the Review. 



Had you thought of cement hive stands for your apiary? They 

 may be made to advantage in the early season as soon as freezing 

 weather has passed. 



Has your apiary a satisfactory windbreak? If n<^t, spring is the 

 time to plant a mixed hedge of evergreens and deciduous trees. The 

 hemlock and arborvitse are satisfactory in New England. A great 

 variety of quick growing deciduous trees are available, either wild 

 or cultivated, to mix with these, ^^'atch for the first pollen. The 

 writer would appreciate reports on this, indicating tlie source and 

 date. 



