228 A Modern Bee-Farm 
As a result of imperfect wintering a great many bee- 
keepers are troubled with 
Spring Dwindling,* 
so called, ‘because after making exertions to develop the 
brood nest, the bees rapidly decrease in numbers instead 
of continuing a progressive state of increase. This is 
almost entirely due to the owner’s own mismanagement, 
or miscalculations. Where it is not directly traceable to . 
disease, . 
The Causes of Dwindling 
may be the retention of old queens; bad ventilation and 
consequent dampness in winter; insufficient food causing 
a feeling of poverty; yes, and even an excess of food 
where no effort is made at the right time to convert it into 
life and force. 
Feeding during Winter, and more particularly with 
candy, between October and February, inclusive ; as well 
as stimulating the bees to breed too late in Autumn, or 
too‘early in Spring, should all be avoided where one hopes 
to push forward with the greatest rapidity when warmer 
weather is approaching. 
The Golden Rule 
in stimulative feeding must never be lost sight of; it is 
this :—“ Do not commence until all conditions are 
favorably combined for the rapid development of the 
brood nest, from the first moment you decide to break up 
the semi-hibernating condition of the winter cluster.” See 
“Plumping” ; also “ Feeding and Feeders.” 
* Ordinary Spring dwindling is am accident, and not a disease; 
but the presence of disease germs will of course aggravate the 
trouble, or may be the sole cause of dwindling at any season. 
