19 



exception of the heather only a gleaning of nectar from bramble 

 and other wild flowers then remains. There is a period every 

 year, varying in each district according to soil and altitude, 

 when the supply of nectar is most abundant. This time should 

 be ascertained by the bee-keeper, who will then stimulate his 

 colonies beforehand, so that they may have their laxgest popula- 

 tion ready to gather the produce of the various flowers when 

 at the zenith of their bloom. 



METHODS OF OBTAININa STRONG COLONIES OF 

 BEES FOR WINTERING. 



Many bee-keepers make the mistake of attem.pting to winter 

 the colonies they have obtained by artificial increase, and also 

 other colonies that for various reasons have become reduced 

 in numbers, in such a weak condition that they often do not 

 survive the cold weather or the long confinement in the hive 

 during the winter. 



In order to avoid failure from this cause increase should 

 be made early in the season, so that by the end of July at 

 least four combs are filled with brood and well covered by 

 bees. The colonies must then be built up during August and 

 September until they are sufficiently strong to winter success- 

 fully- 



Union of Weak Colonies. — Colonies covering less than four 

 combs at the end of July should be united to form stronger 

 ones. After selectine two or more weak colonies for unionj 

 rnove Biem gradual^ .tp££the'j....£g!'.. ?19S§_, ..fe^-H -A- .- Jfflfii 

 ■Kiiy V arid "only'Tri li'he evening of fine days when the bees have 

 "been flying, until they are side by side and almost touching. 

 Allow them to remain two days in this position and then in 

 the evening of the second day unite them in one hive. This is 

 carried out as follows:. — First, remove all the combs in each 

 colony not covered with bees, then, after selecting and caging 

 the best queen on a comb in the permanent hive, remove the 

 other queen or queens. Then, after all the bees have been 

 well dusted with ordinary wheaten flour place the combs in 

 the permanent hive taking care to inter-space them. The 

 empty hive or hives are then removed. The operation is com- 

 pleted by releasing the eaged queen forty-eight hours after the 

 colonies have been united. 



Addition ol Frames. — The process of building up is carried 



out by the gradual addition of frames fitted with full sheets 

 of wired worker base foundation so that the bees can build 

 them out into combs and fill them with brood and food, and 

 in this way increase the strength of the colonies. 



