70 MONEY IKT BEES IN AUSTRALASIA 



If these conditions are absent no increase of hives or 

 any queen-rearing operations should be attempted. This 

 question of increase is the cause of more failure than 

 any other item in apiculture. There are as many ways of 

 increasing as there are apiarists, and to the seasoned 

 expert they are all safe and sure; to the novice there is 

 no safe plan, and here is a word of advice to the beginner. 

 For the first year or two make no more increase than 

 what the bees compel; in a great many instances the 

 natural gain will be more' than the novice can well attend 

 to. Go in for honey, and see how many bees you can get 

 into one hive, not how many hives you can populate. 



IMPORTANCE OF SPRING WORK. 



That the work performed in the spring has a 

 pronounced effect upon the earning power of the apiary 

 is a fact that few would dispute. Of necessity the various 

 manipulations must be modified to suit existing circum- 

 stances, but there is always certain routine work that 

 must be carried out. 



For instance, on a nice sunny day, look over the hives, 

 and if any are damp change them for dry ones ; examine 

 the covers also : some may require repairs, and painting. 

 Go over the underneath of the bottom boards with warm 

 tar : it preserves the wood, and acts as a mild disinfectant. 

 Hives that have fallen ' ' out of square ' ' should be levelled 

 up. This will save ungainly combs. Avoid too much 

 opening of the colonies in early spring. Clean up the 

 supers, cut out all misshapen combs, and have them all 

 ready for use in case of an early flow. 



When the weather becomes more settled, it is time 

 to overhaul the brood-nest and look out for the queen; 

 note her age, and if too old, mark her for removal. Clip 

 all queens ' wings, and cut out drone comb early, otherwise 

 it will only be rebuilt drone pattern. If queen-rearing is 

 carried on, it is well to select the drones and give them a 

 little extra attention. If any further hive supers or 

 frames, etc., are likely to be in demand, do not wait for 

 the swarming season to arrive before securing them. 



