Fifty years among the bseS 125 



May 31. — Saw first clover blossom. 



June 5. — Apple about done. 



June 12. — Commenced giving supers. 



June 13. — Clover full bloom — plentiful. 



June 20. — Locust out. 



August 1. — Clover failing. 



August 5. — Eobber bees trouble. 



You will notice that the earliest apple bloom (Duchess of 

 Oldenberg) commenced May 10, while the Janets and other late 

 bloomers were stiU in blossom on June 5, several days after the 

 first clover was seen, making about four weeks of apple bloom. 

 Possibly this was unusual — certainly the clover lasted unusually 

 long, about 7^/2 weeks from the time the bees commenced work- 

 ing on it, for they do not seem to commence work till after 

 the blossoms have been out some time.. 



TIME FOR GIVING SUPERS. 



You see that I did not commence putting supers on till 12 

 days after I saw the first clover blossom, and if I had had only 

 a dozen colonies, I might have waited later, but with a large 

 number I must commence in time so that all shall be on as soon 

 as needed. Usually I put on supers as nearly as convenient to 

 ten days after seeing the very first white-clover blossom. A 

 little time before bees commence work in supers, little bits of 

 pure white wax will be seen stuck on the old comb about the 

 upper part, yet I hardly wait for this, but go rather by the 

 clover. 



Another year (1884), I saw the first clover blossom on 

 May 21, apple being still in full bloom ; and I commenced put- 

 ting on supers June 2. One year, I remember, clover failed on 

 July 4, the earliest I ever remember. 



MEMORANDA OP 1901. 



Turning to another year, the year 1901, I give a few 

 entries : 



March 17. — Bluebirds, prairie chickens, robins, larks. 

 March 25. — Frogs. 

 April 5. — Soft maple. 



