SPRING MANAGEMENT.—Chapter XIX. 
Cleaning the Hives. 
The entrances of all live colonies should be cleared of dead bees (it, 
unfortunately, there be such) by means of a wire hook. This wire should 
be long enough to reach clear under the frames, so that all the dead bees 
on the floor of the hive may be raked out. Later, when settled warm 
weather prevails, and the bees are flying freely, it may be well to open 
the hives of any weak colonies, take out all the frames and thoroughly 
clean the hive of dead bees, taking care to do this on a warm day when 
the brood will not be chilled. This will not be necessary in the case of 
strong colonies, because the bees themselves of such strong colonies carry 
out all the dead. Iu case an excess of propolis be found on the frames, 
it should be scraped off. In warm regions this cleaning of the hive needs 
to be repeated frequently. This cleaning, or so-called “overhauling the 
hive,” makes it easier to handle the frames and to control the wax moth. 
If Dysentery Be Present. 
The earliest examination of the colonies may reveal the presence of 
dysentery. The signs are numerous dark-brown or black spots spattered 
about the entrance. The cause of dysentery is generally a poor food sup- 
ply, such as honeydew, combined with long, unbroken confinement to the 
hive by severe cold weather. About the only remedy is settled warm 
weather, permitting the bees to fly freely; but it is well to contract the 
brood-nest to as few frames as will accommodate the cluster. 
Stores Necessary in Spring. 
One of the most important objects in opening the hive in the spring 
is to ascertain whether there are sufficient stores to carry the bees through 
1o the time when they can gather their own food (pollen and nectar) in the 
fields. The bees should always have an abundance of food of good quality. 
By an abundance is meant at least two or three frames of good sealed 
honey in the hive all the time. Enough of good honey, of course, should 
have been left in the hive the fall before to carry the bees through the 
spring. But, for one reason or another, colonies often go into winter 
quarters short of stores, and the result is danger of starving if not given 
food in the spring before the bees can begin gathering nectar. 
An abundance of stores for the excessive brood-rearing of spring is 
one of the most important factors in securing a honey crop; for, if the 
stores fall short, the bees will at. once reduce brood-rearing, thus prevent- 
ing the colony from developing to full strength by the time of the main 
honey flow. 
Giving Sealed Stores. 
Suppose, upon opening the hive in the spring, the colony is found to 
be short of stores. ‘Then sugar syrup or bee candy must be supplied the 
bees, if there are no frames of sealed honey that can be given. Many good 
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