28 



For the first two weeks of her life the worker does inside work only, her recreation 

 being a short flight along with thousands of her kind round the hive entrance in the 

 heat of the day. These play-spells are sometimes mistaken for swarms coming off, so 

 numerous become the young workers in midsummer. At the end of two weeks the 

 worker becomes a fielder— that is, a provider. It is worth while to note, for it is of 

 practical value in hive management, that fiv^e weeks elapse from the laying of the egg 

 to the day when the young worker carries in her first load of nectar. 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Cycle of the Bee-year in British Columbia. 



Since bees pass the cold days of winter in a semi-dormant condition, flying freely 

 only on fine sunny days when the thermometer is at least 48° in the shade, one is 

 tempted to consider that the bee-year will start with the carrying in of the first pollen, 

 which occurs in the coast regions of the Province towards the end of February — in 

 Victoria as early as the 22nd, and in the dry belt a few weeks later ; March 12th in 

 the Okanagan. As the probable date draws nigh, even the oldest bee-keepers kindle 

 with enthusiasm and watch for the first bee that is carrying the brilliant-hued pellets 

 on her hind legs. Not only does he rejoice over the prospect of once more being active 

 with a pleasant part of his life, but when he sees bee after bee alighting with her load 

 he knows almost to a certainty that brood-raising has been started and all is well with 

 the queen. If, however, he observes a hive where no pollen is being carried in, while 

 others are busy, he is suspicious that the queen has died in the course of the winter. 

 He makes note of all such colonies and at the first favourable opportunity, that is 

 a day when the sun shines brightly, the air is quiet, and the temperature is 

 comfortably warm, rapidly learns whether the colony is queen right or not. Opening 

 the hive, he chooses a frame in the middle of the cluster, looks into the cells to discover 

 the presence or absence of eggs or larvae. When these are found he investigates no 

 further, but if they are wanting he will inspect the balance of the frames. Failing to 

 find signs of brood, he will then look for the queen, an easy task at this time of the 

 year. If she be located all is satisfactory ; if not the case is very suspicious, but it 

 does not do to assume she is actually missing. But if on examination a week later the 

 same conditions exist, then the colony should be combined with one that has a queen. 

 (See chapter 13.) 



Essentials in Spring. 



The most essential features of a hive when pollen begins to be carried in are : the 

 sure presence of a ([ueen, lots of bees, and plenty of stores — that is, honey or its substi- 

 tute, sugar syrup. The lack of a queen means certain death to the colony in a few 

 weeks. A hive weak in bees will develop strength very slowly, or dwindle out of 

 existence, while one without stores may die of starvation or do little more than hold 

 its own during the spring montlis. 



The food supply is largely under the control of the bee-keeper, and at one time 

 spring feeding with sugar syrup was strongly advocated, but in recent years it is 

 considered that the best time to feed for spring consumption is in the autumn of the 

 previous year. So the nHwlern bee-keeper, in September or October, begins to put liis 

 bees in shape for the honey-flow in June, by making certain that there are at least 25 

 pounds of honey, or the e<iuiralent in sugar syrup, in every colony. 



