THE BROOD-EEAEHSTG CYCLE OF THE HONEYBEE 13 



the following method : Before packing, three frames in the lower hive 

 body are replaced by two chaff division boards the lugs of which 

 have been sawed off. After removing the frames in the second hive 

 body these division boards in the lower hive body can be pulled out 

 easily, and the space created by their removal is then sufficient to 

 allow removal of the frames which were there with them. The space 

 occupied by two packed division boards of the type commonly 

 manufactured is equivalent to that occupied by three Langstroth 

 frames. 



SEASONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF 1921 



In the season of 1921 the weather conditions at the location of the 

 bureau apiary were not favorable for a maximum honey crop. 

 Although warm weather in late February and the fore part of March 

 had brought out fruit bloom and other flowers somewhat prematurely, 

 and although the thermometer registered as high as 90° F. (32.22° C.) 

 on March 27 and 28, on March 29 and 30 most of this early bloom 

 was destroyed by frost. On the morning of April 1, moreover, 

 traces of snow were visible on the covers of the hives. During the 

 fortnight beginning March 29, with one exception, when 59° F. 

 (15° C.) was the minimum registered, the temperature dropped each 

 night well below the clustering point (57° F., 13.89° C.) even reach- 

 ing the freezing point on six occasions. One 96-hour period had a 

 maximum of only 62° F. (16.67° C.) and a minimum of 29° F. (-1.67° 

 O). On four occasions 57° F. (13.89° C.) was the highest tempera- 

 ture recorded during a 24-hour period. Slight precipitation occurred 

 on eight days of this fortnight. Such weather curtailed pollen and 

 nectar gathering, which had just before been going on very actively. 



Warmer weather set in again with the middle of April, and con- 

 tinued until the end of the summer, although there were a few days 

 of cold, rainy weather in early May. The temperature during April 

 ranged from 29° F. (-1.67° C.) to 96° F. (35.56° C.) ; in May, from 

 39° F. (3.89° C.) to 93° F. (33.89° O). Kain on six consecutive 

 days, beginning with May 11, spoiled the chances for a large yield 

 from black locust (Rohinia pseudacacia) . On May 18 the tuliptree 

 (Liriodendron tulipifera) began to yield nectar, but a four days' rain 

 beginning May 23 put an end to nectar from this source. Nectar 

 was available in small quantities frorn^ other sources during the 

 latter half of April and throughout May. 



During practically the whole of June much honeydew, as well as 

 pollen, was available, and for a short time after June 15 a slight 

 amount of nectar from basswood (Tilia spp.) and sweet clover 

 (Melilotus alba) was collected. During July little nectar came in, 

 although during the week beginning July 15 a small quantity of 

 pollen was brought into the hive. Beginning August 3, and through- 

 out the rest of the month, pollen was carried into the hives in largo 

 quantities, and it was fairly abundant during September. Beginning 

 September 12 and continuing until the end of that month a small 

 nectar flow from various Compositae was on. October proved to be 

 a period of little activity as far as pollen or nectar gathering was 

 concerned. 



