8 



for several weeks, but pollen is more than plentiful. It is at this time that many a 

 honey-flow is lost unless sugar syrup is fed to keep up brood-raising in the hives, so 

 that the colonies may be strong when the flow of nectar does start. Similar conditions 

 would seem to obtain along the lower part of the Fraser River. In the irrigated fruit 

 regions there is apparently no break in the flow of nectar, so that brood-raising is 

 continuous after it once starts. 



On Vancouver Island the honey-flow is over by the middle of July. Like conditions 

 prevail in the New Westminster District. 



In the Okanagan and similar regions it would appear that surplus honey is got 

 from the fruit-blooms. The flow from clover ends with July. 



No fall honey-flow is reported excepting from the Okanagan, the source being 

 sage-brush in August and September. 



HONEY-DEW. 



Honey-dew, which is usually considered to be an excretion from aphis and certain 

 scale insects, is in some years very plentiful on Vancouver Island, and is freely gathered 

 by the bees in the absence of nectar. It is considered very poor winter stores unless the 

 bees are fortunate enough to have an occasional flight in December and January. It is 

 very dark in colour, and when mixed with the honey in the supers impairs both its 

 colour and flavour. It occurs also some years along the lower part of the Fraser River, 

 but in the dry belt it is practically unknown. It would appear to be most plentiful in 

 the fir-tree regions. 



Fall Feeding. 



It is generally necessary to feed sugar syrup in autumn on the south part of 

 Vancouver Island, but from Nanaimo to Comox feeding is generally unnecessary, and 

 the same is true of all points on the Mainland. 



Wintering. 



The general custom appears to be to winter the hives on the summer stands all over 

 the Province. On Vancouver Island and the lower part of the Fraser River cellar 

 wintering is impossible, as there are occasional warm days throughout the winter when 

 l)ees fly freely. Many bee-keepers in these regions make no difterence between summer 

 and winter coverings, but others endeavour to keep the hives dry by wrapping wilh 

 tar-paper or by placing in an open-fronted shed. In the dry belt a few favour cellar 

 wintering, but the majority consider the average cellar as too damp, and so pack the 

 hives with shavings, leaves, or similar material held in position by a water-tight cashig, 

 such as a box. Those with double-walled hives make no special preparations at all. 



Hive Preferred. 



The Langstroth hive is practically the only one in use. There is equal favour 

 shown between the eight-frame and ten-frame hive ; in fact, where both sizes are tried, 

 any comment is to the effect that there is practically no difference in the results. 



Races of Bees. 



A few have blacks, all others Italians. There is a little warmth occasionally shown 

 on this rather interesting and controversial subject. The blacks have their defenders, 

 but many of those who favour the otliers want to see the dark bees wiped out, one 

 enthusiast going so far as to wish the Provincial Parliament to pass an Act ordering 

 the decapit*ition of every black ([ueen witliin its jurisdiction, in order to keep the 

 Italian stock pure. Hybrids seemingly have no friends, on account of their vicious 

 disposition. 



