48 CALENDAR OF OPERATIONS IN THE APIARV. 



JUNE. 



Early in this month the wHite clover comes into bloom, and every- 

 thing being favourable, honey Will be stored rapidly. Keep the combs 

 clear of honey by using the extractor, and take away sections when 

 finished. Swarms and after-swarms give a good deal of trouble now, 

 and spare hives and frames of foundation Will be in great demand. * 



JULY. 



Up to the middle of (his month bees will continue to store honey 

 from white clover, and a sharp look-out must be kept for the end of the 

 honey flow. When it ceases to come in, bees are very likely to begin 

 robbing, and on no account should honey or syrup be left where they 

 can have access to it. All supers and combs intended for the extractor 

 should be removed. Destroy wasps' nests by pouring paraffin oil into 

 the entrance. As a rule, swarms will not issue after this month. 



AUGUST. 



Heather comes into bloom, and where bees are kept within flight- 

 range of it, a second harvest may be expected, weather being favourable. 

 Sometimes bees will gather and store the insect secretion known as 

 honey dew from trees infested with the aphis at green fly, to the loss and 

 annoyance of the bee-keeper. Drones are now worried out of the 

 hives. 



SEPTEMBER. 



Contract entrances to prevent robbing. Examine stocks and make 

 a note of those requiring feeding to carry them over the winter. Any 

 hive in which drones are allowed to live may be set downlas queenless, 

 and steps should be taken to unite it to another, or, if it is strong in bees, 

 to give it a laying queen. 



OCTOBER. 



By the middle of this month feeding should be finished, unless in eases 

 of necessity. If the bees have not sufficient food by that time, bee sugar- 

 barley, and nothing else, should be given. Contract hives by removing 

 spare combs to suit the requirements of each stock. 



NOVEMBER. 



During this and next months bees should not be disturbed unneces- 

 sarily. Mistakes, however, may still be rectified. On fine days, hives 

 in actual use may have a coat of paint. Roofs should be examined, and 

 all cracks likely to admit rain should be stopped. 



DECEMBER. 



Open entrance slides to fullest extent, but with this exCejition— dis- 

 turb bees as little as possible. 



