31 



June is also the month of the honey-flow, so its start should be watched for. The 

 first few days the bees will deposit the nectar in the brood-chamber, filling every vacant 

 cell just as fast as they become empty through the hatching of brood. Then comes the 

 capping of the honey. This is the time to put on supers, and is indicated by the 

 whitening of the wax on the top of the frames. If comb-honey supers are put on before 

 this, the bees often remove the foundation to use in the brood-chamber. Where an upper 

 division of empty extracting combs was given earlier, and the intention is to run for 

 extracted honey, nothing need be done excepting to make sure that the bees have 

 enough room. 



July. 



In the south end of Vancouver Island the honey-flow comes to an end from the 10th 

 to the 15th of this month. The writer has not got very definite data about other regions 

 of the Province, so each beginner must learn the conditions for himself. On the Island 

 there is no fall flow, but in some parts of the dry belt the bees get a second opportunity 

 to gather surplus in August and September. 



Ordinarily there is very little swarming in the coast regions after the beginning 

 of the month, and it is well that this is so, as late swarms will simply starve to death 

 unless fed regularly for several weeks. 



All sealed comb-honey should be removed from the hive at the close of the flow, 

 to prevent its delicate whiteness becoming soiled by the travel of the bees. Extracted 

 honey should be left on longer, to insure its being thoroughly ripened. When there is 

 a second flow the crops should be kept apart by extracting the first before the other 

 is due. 



August. 



In most regions there is but little forage for bees in August, this being especially 

 true of the coast regions ; in fact, were it not for fall dandelions and thistles, there 

 would be practically nothing coming in. Towards the end of the month the second 

 flow starts in the dry belt. 



September. 



In the coast districts there is no nectar. Early in the month the hives should be 

 gone through to see how the bees are off for stores. Some bee-keepers feed for the 

 winter before the month closes ; others prefer to give half the necessary amount now, 

 the balance a month hence. Any weak or queenless colony should be combined with 

 another. 



October. 



Before the end of the month make certain that every colony has at least 25 pounds 

 of honey or sugar syrup to carry it through the winter. Feeding over, the colonies 

 should be prepared for the cold months if they are to remain on the summer stand. 

 In the coast region very little protection is necessary ; in fact, most people are content 

 to make sure that no moisture can get into the hive. In the dry belt packing is 

 necessary when the hives are wintered in the open air, as is done in the majority of 

 cases on account of the difficulty of securing a cellar that is dry enough. Only a few 

 report wintering bees in this \\-ay. 



November. 



When cellar wintering is to be followed, the hives should be transferred to their 

 winter quarters towards the end of the month. 



