226 A Modern Bee-Farm 
rearing ceases, only to be renewed as soon as the workers 
can get abroad. Pollen is as a rule always present in 
well-stored stock combs, and when this comes in freely 
(March to April), all fresh from the fields, the brood nest 
is rapidly extended. Now is the time to see that the bees 
have more than sufficient food to keep them going. With 
a good queen it can hardly happen that the combs will 
be too heavily charged with honey at this season, but by 
taking the outside combs, one at a time, and inserting 
them in the centre of the brood nest after the cappings 
are first bruised, great progress-will be made. One such 
comb as yet at an interval of seven or ten days, as needed, 
will keep the bees and queen busy, and by May Ist, the 
whole ten or more combs should be one mass of brood, and 
the hive so crowded with bees that another set of combs 
will be required delow the stock hive. If one has no combs 
on hand, then use sheets of foundation, alternating them 
with the combs of brood throughout both storeys, and see 
that the older brood goes below, with the pollen combs 
near the outside. In any case feed carefully, until honey 
comes in freely, as such a large population is liable to be 
rendered perfectly useless by the loss of the brood, by 
the slightest neglect at this time. 
Avoid all Candy 
if possible, until April or May, when the hives becoming 
crowded with young bees, it will be quite safe, and will 
act as a powerful stimulant both towards comb-building 
and the rapid extension of the brood nest. 
If syrup must be used, give a pint or two rapidly at 
first, then feed slowly from a half to one pint daily, 
according to the strength of the stock. 
The apiarist should on no account commence feeding with 
combs just filled with dripping syrup. This, and too early 
