THE BEE-KEEPER IN SPRING. 167 



February. He must remember that ' one swallow 

 does not make a summer.' 



But another thing is to be thought of, because it is 

 not only syrup or even pure honey that by itself is suffi- 

 cient for the young larvae. They must have pollen. This 

 is their special flesh-forming food, and, although the 

 bees will have some of it stored up from the previous 

 year, the queen seldom begins to lay many eggs 

 before the workers can find it in tolerable abundance. 

 And so what the bee-keeper does is to give the bees 

 artificial pollen, or something that will answer the 

 purpose of pollen. 



This is generally 'pea-flour,' which contains the 

 same flesh-forming substance that pollen does. He 

 places it in shallow boxes near the hives, and it is 

 quite a curious sight to see the bees revel in it, 

 tumbling into it, and getting completely covered with 

 the flour — as white as millers, and carrying it home 

 with the greatest delight. 



But nevertheless, although it does well thus as a 

 substitute, the bees, as soon as ever natural pollen is 

 to be had in anything like plenty (very probably from 

 the willows, which flower early), cease to take the 

 artificial food. They greatly prefer nature's supply to 

 anything we can give them. The object, however, has 

 been attained, and the queen has been stimulated to 

 activity, and there will be — earlier than otherwise — 

 plenty of eggs and larvae in all stages, and many young 

 bees ready to hatch out and strengthen the working 

 power of the hive. 



But all this requires care on the part of the bee- 

 keeper, for, as with other things, there is a right and a 



