CALENDAR. 169 



this month, we ascertain how they have kept their bees in 

 winter. Ey gently lifting them oif their boards, and 

 turning them up, we may see in what condition they are, 

 without the use of smoke. In cold weather they now sit 

 quietly amongst their combs ; and if a hive contain four 

 or five seams of bees — that is to say, four or five lots of 

 bees — about the size or breadth of a tea-cup saucer, or 

 crown of a man's hat, and each lot separated by a comb 

 from the next lot, the hive is (all else being well) in first- 

 rate condition, and wUl probably be ready for swarming 

 early in May. If a smaller hive have three such seams of 

 bees at the beginning of this month, it wiU in an ordinary 

 season be ready to swarm some time in May. The seams 

 of bees in weak hives are often reduced to three, and 

 these not much larger in a frosty morning than a gentle- 

 man's watch. Such weak stocks often go spark out, not 

 for want of food, but for want of bees. When two hives 

 standing together have only two seams of bees each early 

 in this month, they should be united at the earliest op- 

 portunity, for one good hive is better than two weak ones. 

 By examining hives frequently, their state may be well 

 understood. When bees are moving about, the smoke 

 should be used before hives are turned up. 



Bees commence to breed in February and March ; and 

 when they do begin, they may be seen seeking for water. 

 And in about ten days after they begin, patches of sealed 

 brood may be found in hives — the strong hives with 

 larger patches, and more of them, than the weak hives. 

 A hive containing five seams of bees will have three 

 patches of brood to begin with ; and those of three seams 

 only, one patch of brood. Here we have evidence of the 

 value of strong stocks. While these early patches of 

 brood are being hatched, the weather gradually becomes 

 warmer, and bees cover more comb. The patches become 

 larger day by day, and other combs are embraced, and 



