( ,69 ) 



SHORT RULES 



FOR THE GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF 

 MOVEABLE COMB-HIVES. 



I.— SPKING. 



DuBiNG favourable weather at the end of March, take the 

 opportunity of examining and ascertaining the condition of every 

 hive. Contract the size of the hive with division-boards, so that 

 the bees have only as many combs as they can occupy. Examine 

 each comb as it is removed, and ascertain the presence of the 

 queen. If she has commenced to lay, she may be further 

 stimulated by uncapping some of the honey-cells. Gentle feeding, 

 either with syrup or flour-candy, should also be resorted to if the 

 bees are likely to run short of food. If the colony is found 

 queenless, unite it to one having a fertile queen. Should the 

 queen be a drone-breeder, she should be destroyed, and the bees 

 united to another colony. Keep the hives well covered and warm, 

 and disturb as little as possible. Take care only to open on warm 

 days, so as not to chill the brood. As brood increases and the 

 hive gets crowded with bees, breeding may be further stimulated 

 by spreading the brood very cautiously, and continue gentle 

 feeding with liquid food. It is better to give the food at night, 

 to prevent robbing ; also, for the same reason, open hive-entrances 

 only in proportion to the strength of the colony. When warm 

 weather induces frequent flights, provide a drinking-trough for 

 the bees, and induce them to visit this by adding a little honey 

 and salt to the water. Provide artificial pollen as long as the bees 

 will take it. As breeding and the strength of the colonies 

 increase, equalise the stocks by removing frames of brood from 

 those having an abundance, and giving them to weaker ones. 



