54 Texas Department of Ageicultuee. 



APIARY MANAGEMENT. 



There are many necessary manipulations that can be profitably 

 made in preparing the bees for the honey season, but many bee- 

 keepers tinker with the bees too much. This should be avoided as 

 far as possible, without neglecting the bees. Each individual must 

 study out a system best suited to enable him to get best results in 

 his particular case. In this age of progressive ideas, "short cuts" 

 that aid in accomplishing maximum results are of much importance 

 in the bee business and should be adopted whenever possible. 



HONEY PLOWS. 



After the bees are located in the apiary in the spring, they should 

 be gotten in the best condition for the honey season. The time of 

 the main honey flow varies in different localities. The spring flow, 

 usually the most important, comes in Southwest Texas very early in 

 April and May, and from two weeks to a month, or more, later in 

 the more northern parts of the State. In many localities there are 

 several main honey flows besides the usual flow in spring or summer. 

 These flows are of varying duration. The beekeeper must learn 

 when to expect them in his particular locality, by studying the flora 

 and times of appearing of blooms from which his main honey flows 

 are procured, or by obtaining the information from beekeepers or 

 others who possess the knowledge, if such, fortunately, happen to be 

 in the neighborhood. The locality should be so studied that the 

 apiarist may be able to foretell from seasonal developments, the 

 commencement of honey flows in his locality. In connection with this, 

 the time to begin preparations for developing the colonies to the great- 

 est possible strength for the flows should be studied also. As bees 

 over two weeks old are the honey gatherers, it should be the aim to 

 have as many bees over that age as possible, and just before the 

 honey flow the hives should be teeming with bees. This preparation 

 is the main aim of the experienced beekeeper who has the end in view 

 of securing big crops of surplus honey. 



SPRING EXAMINATIONS. 



Beginning with the first settled warm weather in the spring, all 

 colonies should be examined to ascertain if they have sufficient stores 

 to tide them through the heavy breeding season that will soon be 

 under good headway, and during which time very much honey is 

 required Needy colonies should receive one or more combs of 

 honey from others that can spare them. In the absence of this one 



