SEE-FARMER'S CALENDAR 193 



for it is doubtless used instead of pollen to feed the young 

 brood . 



Very much depends upon early breeding, the stocks 

 soon become strong, throwing off fine swarms, and are in 

 readiness to avail themselves of the honey harvest when 

 it comes. 



Work for March. 



Bearing in mind the grand rule, " Keep your stocks 

 strong," early in this month, examine each hive carefully, 

 for we can only expect those hives which contain a strong 

 and healthy stock to be profitable. 



Look well to the entrance of the hive; if the bees are 

 observed to void a yellowish excrement you have cause to 

 suspect dysentery. This disease is brought on either from 

 dampness or improper and sour food. We have always 

 found the remedy is cleanliness and feeding with good new 

 honey. 



If the apif.ry is composed of straw skeps, give to each 

 stock a clean floor board ; if this is impossible the sooner the 

 old boards are cleansed the better, in bar-frame hives 

 gently lift up the upper part on a fine warm day and brush 

 all the dead bees, with other dirt, from the bottom board. 

 Bees attend closely to all sanitary matters ; ;n the working 

 season, their dead are speedily carried forth; but in the 

 winter this cannot be done owing to their close confine- 

 ment ; therefore, it is well to aid them in this matter ; they 

 will afterwards appreciate and repay the kind forethought. 



If they have not commenced soon after the month of 

 March has set in to carry pollen to the hives when the 

 weather is favourable, something is wrong, and the sooner 

 the stock is examined the better. Perhaps they are a 

 queenless colony ; if so, unite them to some other stock ; 

 the hive with its valuable comb will be reserved for a 



