206 THE BEEKEEPERS' REVIEW 



that other, April 17th, it was phenomenal. And even as late as 

 April 20 a gain of 3 lbs. Never before, in fifteen years have we had 

 so late a honey flow from orange. Last year in these col- 

 umns we spoke of the lateness of the yield in California (apropos of 

 Mr. Lefler's article) as compared with that here. This year Florida 

 almost paralleled the time of bloom in California. March is usually 

 our main honey flow month ; April in California. This year April 

 was our main gain also. 



Another thing; note the almost unparalleled divergence and 

 fluctuation in the daily gains. April 5 the gain was 81/) lbs. On 

 April 6, it was only 1 lb. A cool snap caused this. On March 29, 

 it was 2 lbs. ; on March 30, it was 6 lbs. ; on March 31, it was none! 

 On April 12 gain was 7 lbs. ; on the next day, it dropped to 3 lbs., and 

 the next, to one-half lb ! On April 16 it was only 4 lbs., right in be- 

 tween two gains of 9 lbs. and lli/o lbs. respectively! Did ever such 

 fluctuating yields appear elsewhere? 



One marked feature of this extreme variation showed daily. We 

 could hardly enter the yard without being attacked with a swarm 

 of fighting bees ; and these from our usually mild leather colored 

 Italians. We would have to wear armor proof garments to do the 

 needed work. The bees would come 100 yards to meet us, before 

 we reached the yard. The folks in the home could hardly attend to 

 the necessary duties about the place, without veils, company was 

 often chased from the place, and bedlam seemed let loose. And 

 this right in the midst of the honey flow. We had never seen any- 

 thing like it. We can account for it on no other basis than the fact, 

 that the flow seemed about to end any day, thus keeping the bees in 

 that state of uncertainty that always appears, when flow is drawing 

 to a close. They were nervous and upset all the time. Now, after 

 the flow, even with robbers prowling about, the apiary is twice as 

 quiet and peaceful as during the height of the flow. If that is not 

 paradoxical, I want to know it. If any one else has any other theory 

 or any comment to make, we open the columns of this magazine to 

 him, and invite correspondence along this line. Surely we all live 

 to learn and we have indeed learned some things this year in our 

 Orange Bloom of 1915. 



Hive Record, 1915. Average Colony. Orange Bloom. 



Put hive on scales March 22 



Wt.of Lbs. Lbs. 

 Hive Gain Loss 

 March 22 (Cool weather) 73 



March 23 (Cool weather) 76 3 



