992 COMB HONEY. 
winter varies considerably with different colonies, an early examina- 
tion to determine the amount of stores may be necessary. Under 
some conditions it may be found profitable to stimulate brood rearing 
early in the spring by slowly feeding diluted sugar sirup to each 
colony, by spreading brood, or by doing both, but any very early . 
stimulation of this kind should be used with caution. Among 
extensive beekeepers the tendency is decidedly toward letting the 
bees alone until the weather is more settled, simply making sure 
that they have sufficient stores. The apiary should, if possible, be 
so located that the bees may have access to water without the neces-. 
sity of exposure of a long flight during bad weather. In localities 
that do not furnish natural pollen, it may be necessary to feed an 
artificial substitute, such as rye meal. A good hive that will con- 
serve the heat of the cluster is also a great help in early brood rear- 
ing. Some beekeepers who winter their colonies in the cellar in 
single-walled hives find it profitable to give them some additional 
protection after they have been removed from the cellar. In the 
northern States double-walled hives are especially advantageous 
during the spring. A protected location for the apiary in some 
instances makes a great difference in early brood rearing. Some 
races breed up more rapidly in the spring than others. The Italians 
are somewhat conservative in this respect, but have so many excel- 
lent traits that they are generally used in this country. In localities 
having intermittent honey flows Italian bees may not give the best 
results because of their tendency to restrict brood rearing during the 
honey flow by crowding the queen and to curtail the production of 
brood during a scarcity of nectar. Drone comb within the brood nest 
in earlyspring.is a decided barrier to rapid brood rearing. Many brood 
combs considered by the average beekeeper to be perfect contain, 
especially in the upper portion, a large percentage of cells which 
can not be used for rearing worker brood because of imperfections 
in shape and size due to the stretching of this portion of the combs 
during hot weather. This suggests the advisability of the use of a 
heavier grade of foundation or some method of using vertical wires 
or wooden splints in the upper half of the sheet of foundation. 
THE PRODUCTION OF GATHERING BEES. 
During the six or eight weeks just preceding the honey flow every 
colony should be encouraged to rear the greatest possible amount of 
brood. Brood rearitig during this period is often restricted by insufhi- 
cient stores or by insufficientroom. Itis therefore of great importance 
that both stores and available brood-rearing space be supplied in 
abundance. If stimulative feeding or spreading the brood is prac- 
ticed, this is the time it should be done. 
508 
