CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS IN THE APIARY. 



So much depends on the season, and the circumstances of each apiary, 

 .&S well as the locality, that any hints given under this heading are only 

 to be taken in a general sense. For instance, in April, 1884, we heard 

 of honey being stored in sections in the South of England, while for a 

 month later in the same year bees did not come out of their winter 

 quarters in Scotland, so that the bee-keeper must use his discretion in 

 applying these hints to his own particular case. 



JANUARY. 



Keep entrance slides wide open, and occasionally clear the entrance 

 of dead bees by means of a hooked wire. Although-bees may fly, it 

 will not be advisable to disturb them for the present. Get hives, frames 

 of comb and section crates cleared of propolis by scraping with a piece 

 of glass. Any appliances likely to be wanted later on should be ordered 

 now. 



FEBRUARY. 



Advantage may be taken of the first fine day to examine stocks, and, 

 where practicable, to transfer them into clean hives. 



MARCH. 



About the beginning of this month the queen may be stimulated by 

 uncapping a frame of sealed honey and placing it next one of the brood 

 combs. Later on food should be given liberally. Look out for signs 

 of robbing. Queen wasps begin to fly now, and should be destroyed 

 whenever seen, as a large proportion of those which escape will found 

 colonies later on in the season. 



APRIL. 



Stocks are now increasing rapidly in strength, and care should be 

 taken not to allow this to be checked by want of food. Unless under 

 very favourable circumstances bees are unable to gather suiiicient honey 

 for the daily wants of the hive, so that the natural supply must be 

 supplemented by sugar syrup. If the combs are not stored with 

 either honey or its substitute, robbing is to be guarded against while 

 feeding, as if not checked at the outset it may become general. 



MAY. 



This is one of the busiest months in the apiary. The fruit trees are 

 in full bloom, and, if the weather is favourable, honey will come in well, 

 although not in sufficient quantity to admit of any being stored in the 

 sections. About the middle of the month drones will make their 

 appearance, and about the last week in the month swarms may bt 

 expected to issue 



