The American Apiculturist. 



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ENTERED AT THE POST-OFFICE, WENHAM, AS SECOND-CLASS MATTER. 



Published Monthly. Philip H. Morant & Co., Publishers and Prop'rs. 



WENHAM, MASS., MAY i, 1886. 



VOL. IV. 



No. 5. 



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JFor the American Apiculturist. 



THE BROOD-CHAMBER 

 FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 



By A. E. Manum. 



Usually in this latitude bees have 

 their first spring flight about April i, 

 and it is at this time that I make 

 the first examination of each colony 

 to ascertain its immediate wants. 

 This work should be done very rap- 

 idly to avoid any long exposure of 

 the brood-nest. 



My object in opening the hives at 

 this time is as follows : first, to see if 

 the bees have honey enough to last 

 them two or three weeks ; if not, a 

 comb of honey is given them. 



I find in my experience that bees, 

 like other living creatures, are un- 

 equal consumers of food, as some 

 11 



colonies require more food than oth- 

 ers of equal strength, hence, the ne- 

 cessity of this first examination. 



Second, to see that no dead bees 

 are lodged between the combs. 



This done and being satisfied that 

 all is well within the hive, I replace 

 the cotton sheet over the frames and 

 over this I spread a covering of en- 

 amelled cloth, then return the pack- 

 ing over all, tucking the bees up as 

 nicely as possible. My object in ^ 

 putting the enamelled cloth over the ' 

 bees, at this time, is to prevent, as 

 much as possible, the escape of heat 

 and moisture, as both are essential 

 in order to carry on brood-rearing 

 successfully. 



Having done everything for the 

 bees that seems needful, they are left 

 to themselves for a time, and I do 

 not open the hives in eariy spring 

 any more than is absolutely neces- 

 sary. 



Sometimes during the last half of 

 April I select a warm day and look 

 the bees over again, and reduce the 

 size of the brood-chamber by the 

 removal of such combs as the bees 

 cannot well cover. I consider it of 

 great importance, that the colony 

 should have no more room at this 

 season than the bees, can occupy. 



About the first of May, if the 

 weather permits, I find it advanta- 

 geous to look the bees over again, 

 as pollen is coming in freely ; breed- 

 ing should be going on quite rap- 

 idly, and as our honey crop depends 

 largely upon the amount of brood 

 reared during May, it is to our ad- 

 vantage that we put forth every effort 

 possible to secure a large amount of 

 brood. 



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