HIVE MANAGEMENT 91 



highly desirable to conserve the warmth 

 of the hive at this season. After this first 

 examination and feeding, the bees should 

 not be further disturbed until warm open 

 weather arrives when each hive should be 

 given a thorough inspection from top to 

 bottom. At this time, as in the first case, 

 one must look to the condition of the larder 

 and if it is found to be reduced to the con- 

 dition of Mother Hubbard's cupboard the 

 feeding performance must be repeated. 



At this time, too, the hive should con- 

 tain a large quantity of young brood and 

 the presence of a laying queen should be 

 attested by the presence of an abundance 

 of fresh eggs. (April eggs are just as 

 welcome to the beekeeper as they are on 

 the breakfast table). If no eggs or brood 

 are found the colony is certainly queenless 

 and should be combined with a queenright 

 (normal) colony. This can readily be 

 done by simply placing the queenless hive 

 over the hive body of the normal one. To 

 prevent any chances of a scrap between 



