BEE-KEEPING IN WAR-TIME 31 



X 



CALENDAR OF WORK FOR THE YEAR 



January. — ^This is a season of rest and quietness in the Apiary. 

 Keep the entrances to the hives clear from dead bees and 

 shade from the sun when snow is on the ground. Repair 

 and paint empty hives and appHances. 



February. — Should doubt exist as to the food supply, giv« 

 a cake of candy. Continue with repairs, etc. 



March. — If the weather be warm, without a cold wind, 

 peep into the brood chamber by just raising the quilt. If 

 food is short, give candy. The brood combs must not be 

 disturbed by lifting out. 



April. — Stimulative feeding may now be done where food 

 is required. If an abundance of food is present, bruise some 

 of the food cappings. Place out the drinking fountain, taking 

 care to shade it so that the flying bees will not soil it. Get 

 ready brood frames and supers. Use full sheets of foundation 

 in all cases. 



May. — The hives will now become crowded ; give room as 

 required either by extra brood frames or supers. Make 

 artificial swarms and prepare for queen rearing. In bad 

 weather continue syrup feeding. 



June. — Look out for swarms. Put on extra supers where 

 required, taking care always to put empty ones under the 

 full ones. Ne\dv hived swarms must be fed for at least 

 a week. Carry out queen rearmg. 



July. — Supering will now be in full swing. Remove sec- 

 tions as completed. Shade the bees from the sun. Watch 

 and see that the brood combs do not become clogged with 

 honey. Should this occur, take out a couple and extract 

 the honey and return them. Carry out this work in the 

 evening to prevent robbing. 



August. — ^The Heather harvest will now be on in those 

 districts where moors exist. Take full advantage of it by 

 using drawn-out comb in the supers. Watch for robbing and 

 contract the entrances to the hives. Remove all supers ; do 

 this work in the evening, taking care to place those removed 

 where they are inaccessible to bees, or robbing may commence 

 Those stocks requiring fresh queens should have them intro- 

 duced this month. Unite weak stocks and commence to feed 

 those which have very little food in the combs. 



