304 AUSTRALIAN BEE LORE AND BEE CULTURE. 



must aid them as much as possible by removing all obstructions 

 from the entrances. If the bees are seen hanging idly in clusters 

 outside the hive, as they do sometimes before swarming, see that 

 there is plenty room inside for storing. 



February. 



In some districts gluts of honey will be coming in, and if the 

 supers be not regularly and systematically removed the bees will 

 store in the brood-chamber. It is highly essential that there should 

 be plenty of room, both for brood purposes and for storage. If 1-lb. 

 sections be desired, and honey cannot be put on the table in a more 

 attractive form, they should be overhauled at least once a week, 

 and all that are capped should be removed and stored out of the 

 way of ants and other bee vermin. It is not wise to store sections 

 unless every cell is capped. See that the separators are so placed 

 that the sections cannot be built out. If the section crates only 

 hold one tier, it is well the separators should be sufficiently wide 

 to come to the top of the section and leave only bee space at the 

 bottom. Metal separators are far preferable to wooden ones. 

 Keep the sections as close together as possible; by so doing they 

 are easily removed and are freer from propolis, which is a con- 

 sideration, because it saves the time of the bees in more ways than 

 one. 



Protect the tops of the hive from the direct rays of the sun, 

 or you will find the combs give way with the heat. 



Give all the ventilation you can. If all the means in the hive 

 be not sufficient to keep a cool current of air passing through, 

 prop up the hive a little from the floor-board. 



Queen-raising should now be over. Nucleus colonies should 

 be united under the best queen among them. In uniting place 

 about eight good frames together and put on a half super. Attend 

 to the instructions given elsewhere re uniting. 



Ventilation, shade, and the storage of all surplus honey are 

 the important factors for this month. 



March. 



The order at the close of last month will be the order for the 

 beginning of this — i.e., ventliation, protection from the direct 

 rays of the sun, the uniting of queenless colonies, and the storage 

 of honey. 



