APPENDIX. 11,1 



Prolong the hreediing season by gentle feeding, as bees hatched now 

 will last far into next spring (see page 58), and at the end of the month 

 bring their weight up to that required for wintering. 



Pollen. — At the end of the month, on a warm day, search amongst your 

 stocks for combs containing excess of pollen ; give these -co your con- 

 demned bees in exchange for one of their white combs, both will thus 

 bo helped immensely. 



Artificial pollen may be given to condemned bees now or next month 

 by shaking it into one of their combs, holding the latter in a horizontal 

 position. The bees ram it down and use it, but any part left is very 

 liable to mildew during the winter. 



Roihing must more than ever be guarded against : (see last month.) 



Where skeps are taken up for honey, fix all their brood combs with up- 

 right sticks side by side, and place a hive over all, giving bees to them 

 to hatch them out ; then use these bees to strengthen your stocks ; but 

 this plan is only to us at the best " new wine in old bottles." 



The fronds of the brake fern may be collected. Draw the hand along 

 the frond in such a way that the raohis (midrib) passes through it. 

 The material wiU now be sufficiently divided to form a most useful quUt 

 for winter use if sawn up in a cheese cloth the shape of a pillow case. It 

 ventilates capitally, and is avoided by mo insect pests. Wo are 

 indebted for this suggestion to Mr. F. E. Jackson, of Slindon. This 

 braken may replace the chaff advised at page 100. 



OCTOBER. 



Stocks now return from the moors, and honey for the year is over. 

 Preparations must now be made for wintering. Hives which are leaky 

 in the roof, or in other ways in need of attention, should havo their con- 

 tents transferred to sound ones, for the benefit of the stock cu the one 

 hand and the repair of the hive on the other. Carry out the direction 

 given at pages 100 and 101. 



Shelter the hives in front, in anticipation of snow (see page 102), so that 

 the bees may not be bewildered about their entrance by new arrangements 

 in colder weather. Narrow the entrances to prevent the ingress of mice : 

 (see page 91.) 



Condemned hees, in the first or second week of the month, if strong in 

 uumbers, may still be fed up into good stocks, especially if helped with 

 a pollen bound comb : (see last month.) 



NOTEMBEE AND DECEMBEB. 



The bees have now retired into winter quarters, and will require but 

 little attention, if in good hands, until the end of the following February 

 ■or beginning of March. Omissions may still, however, be corrected. 



