54 FORTY YEARS AMONG THE BEES. 



down for the age of the queen, and put it in the new book 

 at No. I. This I do throughout all the numbers. 



ADVANTAGE OF BOOK FOR RECORD. 



I do not need to be in the apiary to do this work ; 

 it can be done in the house just as well. Indeed I spend 

 a good deal of time in the house with my record-book, 

 studying and planning, perhaps lying on the lounge. I 

 have two out-apiaries, one three miles north at Jack Wil- 

 son's, on the old farm where my wife was born ; the 

 other five miles southeast at cousin Hastings.' Fre- 

 quently I study my book most of the way in going to one 

 of these apiaries, making my plans, and jotting down 

 memoranda of what is to be done when I get there. 

 That saves time. Another advantage is that my records 

 are safe from interference, for with slates, stones, etc., 

 in the apiary, there is always danger that records may 

 be changed, either through accident or mischievous de- 

 sign. One disadvantage of the book is the danger of for- 

 getting it. One may forget it at an out-apiary, and then 

 have to make a special trip to get it. I've done that. 



SPRING OVERHAULING. 



After the bees are hauled to the out-apiaries, I am 

 ready for spring overhauling as soon as the weather is 

 right for it. I do not want to open up the hives except 

 at a time when it is warm enough for bees to fly freely. 

 Too much danger of chilling the brood. Sometimes there 

 may come one good day followed by a week of weather 

 too bad for bees to fly. So I may commence overhauling 

 in April, and perhaps not till in May ; and if I do com- 

 mence in April I may not get all done till well on in May. 



HIVE SEAT. 



Having due regard to my own comfort, I want a 

 seat when I work at a hive. Mr. Doolittle once tried to 



