ALEXANDER'S WRITINGS ON PRACTICAL BEE CULTURE 23 



very essential; but to have a good queen of a good honey-gathering 

 strain in every colony is of more importance than any other one thing 

 connected with the business; for It the colonies have poor old queens 

 that can not be induced to keep their hives half full of brood we might 

 as well give up at once, for we shall get little or no surplus, and our 

 hopes will be blasted. We should continually try to profit by our 

 past experience, not only in caring for our bees, but in disposing of 

 our honey. Don't be satisfied with the results of the past, but strive 

 to make the coming season the most profitable one you have ever had. 



April, 1908. 



THE ALEXANDER PLAN FOR BUILDING UP WEAK COLONIES. 



SOME VALUABLE HINTS CONCERNING STIMULATION TO INDUCE EARLY BBBEDING. 



The early spring is one of the most important seasons of the year 

 to the honey-producer, for If he neglects his bees at this time it is 

 almost impossible for him to obtain any surplus from his early harvest. 

 We should care for our bees so as to gain two or three weeks' time 

 instead of losing any precious days. First, I wish to call your atten- 

 tion to the importance of keeping your bees as warm as possible all 

 through the spring. If you can, try to have them set where they will 

 have a natural windbreak of some kind. This is very essential to pro- 

 tect them from the cold northwest winds; and at all times of the year 

 avoid shade. There may be some places where shade Is necessary in 

 the apiary, but I have never seen a colony do as well in the shade 

 of a tree as those out in the sun. During early spring I advise by all 

 means contracting the entrance until it is quite small. We allow an 

 entrance only %xl inch, and sometimes still less; then when a warm 

 day comes we enlarge it according to the needs of the colony; then 

 toward night close it again if it is likely to turn cold. Also cover your 

 hives with tarred building-paper. This is an excellent thing to retain 

 the heat from the sun during the day, and in this way you can, with 

 the natural heat of the colony, keep the whole hive so it will remain 

 nice and comfortable all night. 



Then if you will do as I advise in the above, so far as keeping them 

 warm is concerned they will gain fully three weeks' time over the way 

 they are generally cared for. 



Now we will take up the next most important part of spring man- 

 agement, that of stimulative feeding. This, with its twin brother, keep- 

 ing them warm, is the magic word that unlocks the door to a successful 

 summer. I care not how much old capped honey a colony may have, 

 there is nothing that can be done to your bees during early spring that 

 will pay like keeping them wai-m, night and day, and feeding a little 

 warm syrup dally, made very thin from honey or granulated sugar, 

 or both. If fed in the feeders I invented a few years ago a very little 

 will answer the desired purpose. Two cents' worth per day, or about 



