CALENDAR. 147 



mice out. If wooden hives have no crown-holes, one or 

 two dozen of small holes hored through their sides and 

 crowns with gimlets or small hrace-bits will tend to rid 

 them of moisture. 



It has been said hy some one that bees die in a tem- 

 perature of 34° — that is to say, when the mercury falls to 

 within 2" of the freezingrpoint inside a hive, bees cannot 

 live. I have not yet put this to the test of experiment ; 

 but if it is a fact, the importance of covering hives weU in 

 winter cannot be too strongly insisted on. 



Cottagers who make their own hives should get them 

 ready during the long evenings of winter ; and amateurs, 

 too, should prepare beforehand for an increase of swarms. 



February. — This month is one, generally speaking, 

 of inactivity amongst bees. As the days lengthen, the 

 hopes and enthusiasm of bee-keepers are awakened, and 

 some preparations are made for future events. The 

 seasons from 1870 to 1873 inclusive were unfavourable 

 ones for honey-gathering. 1874, though not one of the 

 best seasons for bees, was very favourable in the months 

 of June and July, enabling good swarms to rise in weight 

 to 100 lb. each. In the north of Scotland some rose to 

 120 lb. and upwards. 



When the weather is mild, queens generally begin to 

 lay this month : in the south, early in February; in the 

 north, not till the end of the month. In this neighbour- 

 hood, which is about half-way between London and 

 Edinburgh, I once saw young bees on the wing on the 

 15th of February. The queens that year commenced 

 to lay in January. About four ,years ago we had a very 

 late spring. The first batch of brood that year was not 

 hatched tiU the middle of April. An open early spring 

 and a warm early locality are advantageous to bees, for 

 their lives are of short duration, — nine months — but 



