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material between the combs as far as practical. If care is 

 taken one may not need to use any smoke in this task. 



It is best to place bees on the same stands that they occupied 

 the summer before, though many bee-keepers do not take this 

 trouble. 



As soon as possible after the bees have had a good clealnising 

 flight, if in single wall hives, they should be given some protec- 

 tion. This may be done by wrapping old papers about them 

 being sure to have several thicknesses over the top, under the 

 cover. If no more than he top is thus protected, it pays. Any 

 protection from our inclement spring weather, that helps to 

 conserve the heat of the cololny, pays. Especially do the worker 

 colonies need this protection. 



In about a week after bees have been placed on summer 

 stands, they shouild be looked over carefully to ascertain their 

 condition. One must have a warm day for this, as the haves 

 should be opened and the brood may be chilled. I like to have 

 the temperature at seventy degrees but sometims the work has 

 to be done at a lower temperature. If no brood or eggs are 

 present, the cololny is presumably queenless, and should be 

 united with a strong colony, unless a queen can be supplied 

 within a few days. 



The bees cf weak colonies should be crowded together onto 

 what combs they can cover by using dummy board in place of 

 comb and fillling space with some good packing material such as 

 dry leaves, paper, old cloth or excelsior. As the weather gets 

 vfarmer and more room is needed the combs must be replaced. 

 It is better to have all colonies in the yard of nearly equal 

 strength at the opening of the surplus flow and the bee-keeper 

 should work to this end. When the weather is warm and set- 

 tled, the weaker colonies may be greatly helped by giving them 

 a frame of hatching brood and bees from the strong colonies, 

 being certain that the queen is not removed. If a little smoke 

 is used and the colonies disturbed as little as possible, no fig'ht- 

 ing will result. All grass and weeds should be kept down in 

 front of the entrance of the hives throughout the season. A 

 bdttom board projecting in front of the hive a few inches to 

 form an alighting place, helps. A short board resting on the 

 ground and against the bottom board at an angle looks unsightly 



