150 HANDY BOOK OF BEES. 



brood put in them. This goes on till the extremities 

 of the combs are covered. 



By using the smoke of fustian, and by examining his 

 hives often, any young apiarian may become in a short 

 time — say, three months — a master of the mysteries of 

 bee-keeping, and an expert in the manipulation and 

 management of his hives. 



By one calm examination of a hive this month, the posi- 

 tion and shape of royal cells, and the difference between 

 worker-comb and drone-comb, may be well understood. 



As bees increase in number, and move more actively 

 about, more food is consumed in a hive. If artificial 

 feeding is necessary, more should be given at the end of 

 this month. Whatever is worth doing, should be done 

 ■weU. And when progress and prosperity begin, they 

 should be encouraged. Hives should have plenty of warm 

 covering for two months after breeding commences. 



April. — Now the populations of hives multiply very 

 fast, and every fine day a great quantity of pollen is col- 

 lected. Honey is now gathered from the flowers of 

 gooseberry, plum, and other trees. Strong hives rapidly 

 increase in weight, and eggs are set as widely as possible — 

 that is, as far as the bees cover their combs. The fertility 

 of queens, and the industry of bees, are marvels in the 

 history of bee-hives. When all the combs of a hive are 

 covered with bees, and filled with eggs and brood, it is, 

 in ordinary seasons and circumstances, within three weeks 

 of being ripe for swarming. In examining a hive at this 

 time, to ascertain if the bees cover their combs, no smoke 

 is used ; the hive is simply raised high enough to let us 

 see the bees in their natural position. 



If s\^arms are not wanted early, or at all, supers should 

 be put on hives shortly after all their combs are covered 

 by their bees. If the reader will once more read over 



