ami its Economic Management. 191 



Insufficient Stores. 



This really unnecessary condition is unfortunately too 



frequently allowed ; and is a serious impediment to 



successful hibernating. The bees fully realize their 



beggarly condition, and during the coldest weather may 



often be heard mournfully roaring while other more 



fortunate stocks are perfectly quiet. Candy, as have 



always pointed out, if supplied, is only a further evil, but 



the addition of good sealed stores, inserted in the centre 



of the cluster, or placed flat on the frames, in an 



emergency, will always bring abcut the necessary restful 



condition once more. 



SPklNQ. 



About the 21st December the queens will begin to 

 deposit eggs ; in due time the young will hatch out, and 

 slowly the brood nest is enlarged, until by the time the 

 older bees begin foraging, the consequent heavy losses 

 are fully compensated by those brought to life while out- 

 side cfll appeared quiet. 



The production of young bees at this early date is not 

 always without intermission ; cold in itself never hinders 

 it, as the brood is at the very heart of the cluster, but if 

 unable to obtain water for many days together brood rear- 

 ing ceases, only to be renewed as soon as the workers can 

 get abroad. Pollen is as a rule always present in well- 

 stored stock combs, and when this comes in freely (March 

 to April), all fresh from the fields, the brood nest is rapidly 

 extended. Now is the time to see that the bees have more 

 than sufficient food to keep them going. With a good 

 queen it can hardly happen that the combs will be too 

 heavily charged with honey at this season, but by taking 

 the outside combs, one at a time, and inserting them in 

 the centre of the brood nest after the cappings are first 

 bruised, great progress will be made. One such comb as 



