548 bee-keeper's calendaK. 



crease of bees in the colonies is exceedingly rapid, and drones, 

 if they have not previously made their appearance, begin to 

 issue from the hives that have been allowed to retain a notable 

 amount of drone comb, and this is the time to raise queens 

 for increase, or for improvement (489). 



The breeding space of weak colonies, which has been 

 previously reduced, should again be enlarged as their needs 

 may demand (349). If their combs are judiciously in- 

 creased, with a proper amount of stimulative food (606), 

 and a little help from the stronger colonies (480), they 

 may become as strong as any for the June harvest. In some 

 localities, the strongest colonies may already gather much 

 honey, and it will often be advisable to give them the supers 

 (734) ; but in some seasons and localities, either from long 

 and cold storms, or a deficiency of forage, hives not well sup- 

 plied with honey will exhaust their stores, and perish, unless 

 they are fed. In favorable seasons, swarms (406) may be 

 expected in this months even in the Northern States. These 

 May swarms often issue near the close of the blossoming of 

 fruit-trees, and just before the later supplies of forage, and 

 if the weather becomes suddenly unfavorable, may starve, 

 unless they are fed, even when there is an abundant supply 

 of blossoms in the field. 



884. June.— This is the great swarming month in all our 

 Northern and Middle States. As bees keep up a high tem- 

 perature in their hives, they are by no means so dependent 

 upon tlie weather for forwardness, as plants, and as most 

 other insects necessarily are. We have had as early swarms 

 in Northern Massachusetts, as in the vicinity of Philadelphia. 



If the surplus eases (734) have been put on before the 

 honey crop, there will be a less number of swarms, especially 

 if the boxes have been furnished with combs, as baits, and 

 the entrance enlarged to help ventilation (344). 



If the apiary is not carefully watched the bee-keeper, 

 after a short absence, should examine the neighboring bushes 

 and trees, on some of which he will often fiad a swarm 



