BEE CALENDAR. 303 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

 BEE CALENDAR. 



January. 



With the horticulturist "there is always something to tie, or 

 to stick, or to mend"; so with the bee-keeper. Although there 

 is no delving and digging, still every month brings its allotted 

 work. The hot days of January are very trying to both bees and 

 bee-keepers. The latter is wishing he could work under an 

 umbrella or other sunshade. Well, this autumn, prepare for next 

 summer, unless you have been sufficiently wise to have followed 

 the advice given in the chapter on "Summer and Winter Protection 

 for Bees," In some parts of New South Wales undoubtedly the bees 

 are suffering from the excessive heat — combs are melted, bees suffo- 

 cated, and honey running to waste, causing an abundance of rob- 

 bing to be carried on. During this great heat, if you cannot protect 

 yourself, you must protect your bees from such accidents as above 

 recorded. If there be no natural shade, an artificial one must be 

 at once adopted. A sheet of bark sufficiently large to extend 

 about a foot over each side of the hive will answer the purpose 

 splendidly. In the absence of it, a piece of board or an old bag, 

 can be substituted. Permit the bag to hang down on either side 

 of the hive. In the first place, put a couple of pieces of stick across 

 it so as to leave a sufficient space for air to circulate. Weight the 

 covering, whatever it might be, to prevent the wind from blowing 

 it off. 



Most of the directions for last month will also apply to this. 

 Prevent swarming, if honey be desired; but if it be intended to 

 increase colonies it is not too late to do so, as there is plenty of 

 time for gathering in the winter's stores. Remove sections as they 

 become capped, and store them for use. Occasionally overlook 

 them for the purpose of keeping the bee moth down. If it gets 

 a footing amongst them great damage will be done. Give all the 

 ventilation possible at the mouth of the hive. It will be noted that 

 all the young brood, perhaps none of them, are sealed over. In 

 very hot seasons bees make it a rule not to seal brood in a chrysalis 

 form. A small hole is left for extra ventilation. The bee-keeper 



