NOTES FOR THE SEASONS. 261 
possible. It is usually safe to set them out just before 
Soft or Red Maple blooms. At this time there will prob- 
ably be but little brood in the hives, but after the first 
flight, the queen will commence depositing eggs. Each 
hive should now be examined to ascertain its exact con- 
dition. In making these examinations it will be conveni- 
ent to begin with a clean, empty hive. Remove the hive 
from its stand and put the empty one in its place. Take 
out the combs and put them into the empty hive. Eggs 
in the cells will attest to the presence of a queen. Set 
aside such combs as are not occupied by. the bees, leaving 
those that contain honey. After cleaning this hive thor- 
oughly, use it for the next one in the same manner until 
all have been inspected. If any are found destitute of 
sealed honey, supply them from such as have a surplus, 
or with combs reserved for the purpose. 
If colonies are found to be queenless, or possessing de- 
ficient queens, unite them with others having queens. It 
will often be judicious to unite weak colonies. 
Keep entrances contracted, to prevent robbing, 
and shut off all upward ventilation, to retain the 
warmth. 
Stimulate breeding, and see that no stock is destitute 
of food at any time. Add empty combs as rapidly as the 
stocks become populous enough to demand it. This is 
the time to purchase bees, and transfer them from box- 
hives to movable comb-hives. 
Cards of brood may often be taken from the best stocks 
and used to strengthen weaker ones to advantage. Fill 
the place of such cards with clean, empty combs. It is 
often best to place these in the center of the strong 
swarms, in such a position in the brood-nest that the 
queen will immediately occupy them. It is under such 
favorable circumstances as these that the largest number 
of eggs is deposited in a single day. 
In some sections the best colonies will sometimes send 
