112 BEE-FARMING. 



^een-bees are matured on the fourteenth day from 

 the egg being deposited in the royal cells, and will usually 

 begin to lay eggs fourteen days after maturity. 



Worker Bees are matured in twenty-one days from the 



egg- 



Drones require twenty-four days from the egg. 



Stock Hives are without brood on the twenty-fourth 

 day after swarming, which is the best time to turn them, 

 out, if this be desirable. 



Casts, or Second Swarms, need not be watched for 

 later than the tenth or fourteenth day after a natural 

 swarm. Second swarms are always preceded by piping. 



Third Swarms will occasionally follow the second, 

 either the same or the following day: but should always be 

 returned the same evening to the old hive. 



Situation of Apiary must always be in a sheltered spot;. 

 be sure about this. 



Keep your Stocks strong : without this it is impossible to 

 succeed as a Bee-farmer. 



A moderate increase of stocks every year is the best 

 plan. 



Always smoke the hive before meddling with the 

 combs. 



Bees gorged with honey never venture to attack any 

 one; they are, therefore, quite harmless and quiet when 

 swarming. 



JVeigh every Hive in September, and feed up to about 

 1 8 lbs. 



Ventilate your hives thoroughly at commencement of 

 the winter. 



Cleanliness is most important. Be sure to keep hives,, 

 extractor, feeder, &c. clean. 



Watch your hives as keenly as the bees do against 

 enemies, such as moth, wasps, mice, &c. in September and 

 ( October. 



