BEE CALENDAR. 309 



September. 



In view of the range of climate of the Colony, what may he 

 applicable to apiculture in one district may be quite out of season 

 in another. It is therefore hoped that readers will understand 

 that the advice given is general. 



It is scarcely necessary to remind bee-keepers that the first 

 consideration should be to keep the stocks strong. This matter 

 should have been seen to during the final extraction of honey last 

 season. During the winter months, damp and mildew within the 

 hive, cracks and cold draughts, enemies that have been overlooked 

 when the bees were put up for the winter, and many other causes, 

 may have weakened the stocks. During the middle of the warmest 

 days in winter, and more especially as spring advances, dead bees 

 may be seen on the alighting-board, and mortality is due chiefly, 

 but not wholly, to the causes named. If it were possible to keep 

 a record of vital statistics of bees, old age and starvation would 

 show the highest score on the death-roll. 



Along the coast districts spring foliage is now becoming plenti- 

 ful, and increasing in quantity as we go northwards. On the 

 higher tablelands, especially southward, frosts and snow, still pre- 

 vailing, will retard the spring operations considerably. In our 

 warmer districts there will be more or less young brood in the hives, 

 if the queens are up to the required standard ; but not so in colder 

 districts, where, outside the hives, deaths will be more numerous, 

 and the stocks will be correspondingly weaker. 



If forage be scarce the bees should be sparingly fed, so as to 

 stimulate the early rearing of brood. Pure honey is by far the 

 best and most easily procurable. But with pollen it is another 

 thing. For this necessary article of bee-diet bees do not confine 

 themselves wholly to the dust of flowers. In the cold district' of 

 Monaro I have known them to revel in horse-feed composed of a 

 mixture of bran left in the feed-box, and go home laden therewith. 

 This, to my mind, was evidence that there was plenty of honey 

 in the hive, but a scarcity of pollen wherewith to prepare bee- 

 bread for the coming brood. 



There are many artificial substitutes for pollen — rice-flour, 

 oatmeal, and pea-flour are amongst the best of them. There is 

 not the slightest danger to the bees in giving them a fairly good 

 supply of these during warm bright days. Place it in easy access. 

 It must be taken indoors before sundown every day, and not put 

 out in the morning till all dampness is gone. At no time should 



