CHAPTER V 
What to Do Just Preceding the Honey-flow 
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING PLENTY OF STORES TO LAST 
UNTIL THE MAIN HONEY-FLOW BEGINS 
Immediately following fruit-bloom there is an interval of 
about three weeks before the clover-flow, when there will probably 
be no honey coming in in the Northern States; and at the begin- 
ning of this interval, providing the weather has been favorable, 
so that the bees could work on the fruit-bloom, the hives are heavy 
with brood. If the beginner will remember that, during the three 
weeks preceding the honey-flow from clover, there will be more 
brood in the combs than at any other time in the year, and that 
nearly the whole force of workers that gather the surplus-honey 
crop are reared during the six weeks preceding the clover season, 
he will better understand what I shall have to say a little later. 
The conditions favorable to brood-rearing during the six 
weeks preceding the clover-flow are very important; but I think 
I am safe in saying that not half the colonies in the country are 
provided with these favorable conditions. Every good colony 
should have at least 12 pounds of honey in the frames for breeding 
purposes at the end of fruit-bloom. Colonies medium in size, that 
is, those light in bees and brood, may need less. To tell how much 
honey there is, there is no sure way other than to lift out the 
combs and make an examination. It can be depended upon that 
a brood-comb spaced 13g inches from center to center will contain, 
when sealed, fully 5 pounds of stores. A part of these stores will 
consist of bee-bread, so if there are three combs of stores in the 
hives containing the best colonies at the close of fruit-bloom, such 
colonies will be in the ideal condition that we so much desire, and 
there will be nothing further to do with them until the time arrives 
for putting on the supers. One comb of stores may carry a weak 
colony over this period, and two combs will be sufficient for 
medium colonies. The ten-frame hives prove to be of advantage 
here; for, although there is room for plenty of stores, enough 
space is left for brood-rearing besides. 
