138 THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



APRIL — Lower Arkansas Valley. 



C. Stinsox, Hoi.lv^ Col. 



Weak swarms should be well supplied with stores and be o-iven 

 protection to hold the heat. Swarms which are short of stores 

 should be fed. Fruit bloom varies from the KHh to the 2.3th, accord- 

 ing" to the season. After fruit l^loom feeding" those short of stores 

 should be continued until the main flow commences in June. Uncap 

 a comb every few days ftjr those which are hea\'}- with honey, to 

 stimulate brood rearing. If the honey is candied, sprinkle with 

 water to dissolve the granulation. Feed some water anyhow to 

 save the bees from getting chilled and drowned in the cold water 

 of this season. All manipulation should be done after the bees are 

 done flving or on cool davs to avoid robbing. 



APRIL— Northern States. 



Jesse H. Roberts, Watseka, 111. 



The work in the apiary can now be pushed much more rapidly 

 as there is not quite so much danger of severe changes in the weather 

 to chill them. The feeding of rye meal can be discontinued if there 

 is plenty of natural pollen, but not until then. The feeding of syrup 

 should be continued until fruit bloom opens. Should the weather 

 continue cold for several days at a time, the l)ees ought to be sup- 

 plied with water near their hives, for much of our April losses is 

 due to the bees going in search of water in inclement weather. 



Be sure that your bees are well and healthy, or you might spread 

 disease. Also upon the strength of the colonies in April depends the 

 harvest for the season. 



In most localities the colonies should be equalized by giving the 

 weaker ones brood from the stronger. Do not remove any of the 

 packing if it begins to feel warm, for there are cool nights as late as 

 May. The surplus boxes are seldom needed in this month. The 

 best plan is to keep the stronger ones at work, raising brood for the 

 weaker, but whenever the hive is full of bees out to the corners and 

 the combs begin to look white and fresh along the top bars, then it 

 is time to put on the supers. This whitening of the combs is a 

 sure guide. The latter part of this month, examine every swarm to 

 see if there is brood disease, and if you find any you had better call 

 for the inspector, or treat it if you know how it should be done. 



APRIL— Southwestern States. 



By HeXRV C. BaRROX. riAGER>[AX. X. IM. 



The first of this month will find the later varieties of peach, plum 

 and prune in bloom. The apple trees will be a mass of flowers 

 about the fifteenth to the last of the montli. 



